ECONOMICS

US Policy On Africa

US Policy on Africa

The leading western countries pay special attention to the implementation of its policies in Africa. The greatest activity on the continent is now showing the United States who are seeking to strengthen its influence and strengthen the position, including the benefit of diversifying sources of energy and other valuable minerals. The seriousness of Washington pursued economic and military-political goals is confirmed in the statements of senior U.S. officials, as well as in practical actions the State Department, Pentagon and the private sector in key African countries. Thus, the Acting Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for African Affairs Charles Snyder, speaking in April 2004 at a conference on the strategic interests of the United States in Africa, said: "... due to almost daily discoveries of oil deposits on the continent and in its immediate vicinity, I expressly declare that in the near future, 30 per cent. the total volume of oil imported by us, we'll get it out of Africa, and I emphasize in this regard, here are our strategic interests. " Eloquent in this context and rates of investments of U.S. oil companies in oil exploration and production on the continent. Today, they are, according to various estimates, from 67 to 75 percent. the sum of all investments of the country in Africa. Recently, the area of special attention from Washington is increasingly becoming the West African sub-region. We are talking primarily about the Gulf of Guinea countries and the Sahel zone, which is considered the most promising in terms of the availability of rich hydrocarbon reserves. Analysis of White House policy on the continent except the economic component of the highlights of his growing interest in gaining access to elements of the infrastructure of some African regions. Interest is primarily airports and ocean ports in the Atlantic coast of the continent, the Horn of Africa and countries of the South African region, which can be deployed to strategic lift U.S. Armed Forces and NATO. Here in Washington clearly understood that the stability of practical use in Africa in its geopolitical interests will depend primarily on the stability of the continent's emerging military-political situation. However, U.S. analysts and political scientists are skeptical about the capacity of most existing regimes in the region independently, safely and in full control of the political situation, effectively to ethnic separatism, religious extremism and international terrorism. Disturbing factor is the growth of organized crime, especially relating to maritime piracy and theft of crude oil, the damage from which only in the West African countries is estimated at 3-4 million dollars annually. In turn, neither the U.S. nor its allies do not have the effective date, "the operational mechanisms and adequate response to the ongoing processes in Africa. Pentagon expresses particular concern regarding the possibility of large, poorly controlled by national governments of the territories of the continent by international terrorist groups for the organization of training centers, depots storing weapons and logistical support (ITO), as well as safe havens for ...