John Kerry: US losing Africa to China, Brazil.

US Secretary of State John Kerry has acknowledged that America is losing ground to China and Brazil in Africa. But he also implicitly criticized China for being 'not as transparent as the US' in Africa. Here are his edited remarks on the US position in Africa.



Remarks At Youth Connect: Addis Ababa Featured By BBC's Hardtalk

Remarks

John Kerry

Secretary of State

University of Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
May 26, 2013

MS. BADWI: Hello. I am Zenab Badwi. Welcome to this Hardtalk Special, coming to you from the University of Addis Ababa with the U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry. As the African Union celebrates 50
years, many are hoping that this golden jubilee will mark a new golden era for Africa. We have invited an audience of young Africans to put their questions on U.S. foreign policy to John Kerry, and we also have questions from you, the BBC audience worldwide. (Applause.)
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, welcome to this Hardtalk Special.

QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. Secretary. In light of the growing influence from countries like China and Brazil, do you think there should be new strategy in U.S. diplomacy helping progress and democratization in Africa and elsewhere in the developing world.

MS. BADWI: We’re going to get (inaudible). Carry on, yeah.

QUESTION: Okay, thank you. I would like to ask how the economic crisis is affecting your overall foreign policy in general, especially towards Africa.

MS. BADWI: Okay. That’s slightly related to the China one. Give the microphone to the lady behind you.

QUESTION: Thank you, Secretary of State. I want to know what would you like to do in your legacy for Africa, if it will be after your legacy, and what is your personal aspiration for women in Africa.

MS. BADWI: Okay, Secretary of State, there were just quite a few there. Perhaps you can touch on the first one which was a very straightforward point, the fact that China and countries like Brazil are gaining more influence not only economically but also politically at the expense of the United States. I mean --

SECRETARY KERRY: Well, you’re very perceptive. You’re right. I have no argument with you. China and Brazil have frankly been investing more in Africa than we have. That has to change. President Obama is coming to Africa next month. He’s looking forward to visit. I think he’s going to Tanzania and Senegal and South Africa at the beginning. I’m here now. We are going to be more engaged here. We need to be. And as I said, I’m not kidding you when I say to you there’s a huge future that is going to be written here and we obviously want to continue the relationship that we have.
But I’m concerned, though, that some of the involvement of some countries here is not as transparent as the United States is, and some of it can, in fact, undermine democracy depending on how it is done.

MS. BADWI: Are you talking about China?

SECRETARY KERRY: I’m talking about some countries – (laughter). And I think we need to be involved. We need to be thoughtful about how – what kind of standards are we living up to, because you don’t want to lose your sovereignty or lose opportunities depending on how that happens.

MS. BADWI: Secretary of State, we had a question about your legacy for Africa, but perhaps just give us a final thought on when people look at as Secretary of State, are we going to be able to say there’s such a thing as a Kerry doctrine for Africa and anywhere else?

SECRETARY KERRY: I’m not trying to declare doctrines or get into legacies. It’s not my legacy. It’s a question of your legacy. What’s your legacy for Africa? I’m here to try to help. President Obama wants to try to help. And maybe our legacy will be what we do to try to help.
And what we need to do is continue to do these things. I hope it will be that President Obama and his Administration stepped up our efforts in Africa, that we helped to educate and provide job opportunities for young people, that we worked with young people so the next generation will feel the United States of America helped to define the future of Africa. But you are the ones who will make it happen.

MS. BADWI: All right, got to leave it there. Thank you to all those questions we got on social media and of course through our audience here at the University of Addis Ababa. And thank you indeed, Secretary of State John Kerry for coming. (Applause.)

SECRETARY KERRY: My pleasure.

ENDS.

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