By Kenton X. Chance
ABUJA, Nigeria (CMC) — Jason Miller, a communication strategist and former advisor to President Donald Trump, says that Africa should ally itself with the United States as Washington “will make Africa great again” as partnerships with US companies “present opportunities no one else can match”.
Miller shared his perspective at the Africa Export-Import Bank’s annual meetings (AAM2025), which wrap up here on Saturday, noting that the meetings were taking place at a critical juncture “not just in world history, but a critical juncture in Africa’s history” as the global economy is “rapidly shifting”.
“President Trump’s leadership has restored America as the hottest country in the world to do business with,” Miller told delegates, including the prime ministers of the CARICOM countries of The Bahamas, Grenada and St. Kitts and Nevis.
He said technological advances in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI), energy and many other sectors are rapidly changing the future of the workforce, noting that Africa has the in-demand natural resources needed to power the AI technological revolution.
“And, of course, Africa itself is growing rapidly. The sheer manpower available in Africa now and in the coming years, at a time when other areas of the world are facing population declines, creates a new dynamic. That, too, will change the balance of power.”
Miller said these changes have created a pivotal moment for Africa to seize its opportunities, “but if these opportunities are not taken advantage of, Africa and its people risk falling further behind.
“And if Africa isn’t strategic about how to take advantage of these opportunities and who Africa chooses as its closest allies, the continent itself risks being taken advantage.”
The former Trump advisor said that for decades, too many “outside countries” have come to Africa “and taken, taken, taken, leaving behind nothing but broken promises without any regard to Africa’s people or Africa’s future.
“This must never be allowed to happen again,” he said and made it clear that he was addressing the meeting as a proud American but a private citizen not in government, but a very strong ally to President Donald J Trump.
“And I come with a very different message, not the hollow rhetoric of promises, but the potential for partnerships so that all might share in the economic success.”
Miller said Africa has seen enough of “debt diplomacy and unrequested military occupation.
“This is a moment that calls for friendship and mutual respect and a clear roadmap of what’s in it for you. That’s because this is Africa’s time. This is Africa’s century.”
He said that by 2050, Nigeria will have the ninth-largest economy in the world while by 2050, Africa will likely surpass Europe as the third-largest economic bloc in the world.
“And in just one more generation, Africa has the potential to pass Europe in economic size,” he said, adding that by 2100, Sub Saharan Africa will have four of the world’s top 10 most populous countries and the continent will most likely have the second largest economy in the world, trailing only Asia.
“For these reasons alone, Africa deserves more. Africa can, in fact, accomplish more. And working with the United States, everything is possible, but it’s Africa and Africa’s leaders — you — that must make the choice,” Miller said, adding that Africa must make several choices to realise this success.
He said Africa must position itself for the long term and demand more from those looking to do business on the continent.
“African leaders from both government and businesses alike must avoid deals that sound tempting but generate nothing but unsustainable debt. Instead, Africa should look to partner with allies making commitments of foreign direct investment that also address Africa’s needs.”
He said this means “basics” such as peace, food sustainability, access to clean water, life-saving medicines and healthcare, education for children.
“And it also means investment that looks toward the economy of the future, so that Africans are not left further behind, new roads, railways, ports, all of these help generate Africa’s economy,” Miller said.
“Data centres and fibre optic cables are needed to keep up with the developments in AI and the rest of the tech economy. In fact — this is a critical point — the AI revolution is poised to create economic growth not seen since the Industrial Revolution. That’s how big it is. And with this revolution, Africa has an opportunity to emerge as the heart of the AI supply chain and experience an economic boom never before thought possible.”
Miller spoke about electricity and pointed out that the demand for energy continues to emerge as the greatest obstacle for economic growth in every part of the world.
“Focusing on the future and the tools needed to remain competitive in the future will guarantee that when the pits and the mines are empty, the African people of tomorrow continue to benefit from the investments being made today.”
Miller said he was going to be blunt in his second point that “to attract these needed investments, African nations must continue making the needed reforms to improve the business climate, ending corruption, enforcing contracts and the rule of law, stabilising currencies”.
He said it was not a wish list but “exactly what is required to generate the critical investment Africa needs to realise its full potential” as investment is needed to create almost anything, including jobs, infrastructure, energy and opportunity.
“And the number one pool of capital in the world is in America under President Trump’s new leadership,” Miller said, even as he noted that this is both public and private sector capital.
“This is a key distinction. Private capital is how you ensure success for all parties involved, because no company is going to invest in a failing project, a losing proposition.
“Private capital demands results, and private capital delivers accountability, but this investment won’t come to Africa from the United States unless more reforms are made.”
Miller said that the rule of law must be enforced, and countries and companies alike must know that contracts have to be followed.
“Investors must know that countries are committed to continuing to eliminate corruption.”
He said there has been “some great progress toward economic and legal reforms in Africa in recent years” and some countries that should be commended for their work.
“But more must be done. The faster these reforms are made, the faster American capital and American investment is going to come pouring in, and there will be so much capital that comes pouring in.”
Miller’s third point was that Africa needs to remember who its true friends are, adding that for years, the US and Africa have had “a very special relationship” in health and humanitarian aid, and coming to the Horn of Africa’s aid in times of famine and political instability.
“It’s also been through security and counterterrorism support to fight violent groups such as Boko Haram, al Shabaab and ISIS.”
Miller said Trump has made peace one of his driving objectives, helping to end the conflict between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, as well as helping to mediate tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia.
He said that the US continued to help with combating HIV/AIDS and providing humanitarian support “but now existing in a more streamlined and focused strategy that no longer mixes nation building and political ideology with people who just need help.
“This was a drastic and needed reform to right-size. The United States should not be invested in nation-building. It should be invested in creating partnerships.”
Miller said that going forward, the United States will continue to be in the business of helping bring about peace across Africa.
“The humanitarian aid the United States has provided and will continue to provide is unmatched by any other country. And the economic development projects supported by the United States in the present and in the future are not projects that will load up African countries with debt, but rather they’re projects that will help produce revenue for the countries of Africa.”
He asked that this be contrasted with what Africa has seen from other countries, “such as China”.
“Whether that’s unregulated fishing trawlers in the Gulf of Guinea, environmental disasters from sloppy companies or even inescapable, crippling debt deals. The United States offers something much different.
“The future of the US-Africa relationship is also one that will be based on mutual respect. Respect for each other as a people, respect for each other as investment partners, respect for each other as trading partners, and respect for each other and recognising national sovereignty.”
He said it is important, adding that the United States and every nation in Africa should respect each other’s immigration laws.
Miller spoke of the recent news that the United States had raised the spectre of an additional travel ban with countries facing travel restrictions.
“What did not receive significant media attention was the proper explanation of what was behind that. Very simply: the United States is asking its key allies and partners to make sure that no more than 10 per cent of their visa applicants who are in the United States overstay their visas. They’re asking, very simply, for no more than 15 per cent of the students to stay behind the United States illegally, without a visa.”
Miller said these were all “very reasonable requests” and with the help of the governments of Africa “we can all have secure borders and end illegal immigration”.
He said Africa’s future and his partnership with the United States “remains as bright as ever, and organisations such as Afreximbank and the people at the meetings are “shining examples of what can be made possible, because together, we will make Africa powerful again. Together, we will make Africa wealthy again together.
“We will make Africa strong again together. We will make Africa proud again together. We will make Africa safe again and together, we will make Africa great again,” Miller said.
The former Trump advisor’s comments came hours after Dr. Kishore Mahbubani, Distinguished Fellow, Asia Research Institute, urged Africa to take a neutral position amid the US-China struggle, adding that Asia’s experience has shown that trade, rather than political system or aid, drives economic growth.