Link to article – https://allafrica.com/stories/202311010002.html
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Africa in hopes of strengthening economic ties with the Sub-Saharan region of the continent. In Nigeria, he spoke with the president about a trade relationship between the two countries that would be based in the industry of energy. Liquified gas would be shipped from the large gas reserves of Nigeria, to Germany. In Ghana, he discussed an intensification of relationships in the fields of energy, agriculture, and digitalization. These new programs are in addition to existing ones maintained by the German Agency for International Cooperation.
The Germans want to support the up and coming economy of Sub-Saharan Africa by using their power as Europe’s strongest economy to develop it. This relationship will be extremely beneficial to the respective economies of Nigeria and Ghana, as being involved with an economic superpower will allow them to release their own economic pressures and struggles. It will also be an asset to Germany, as it will allow them to decrease their reliance on Russia for energy. Germany does not support the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and their withdrawal from this trade relationship will weaken the Russian economy.
In class, we have discussed the impact of national interest on diplomacy and the decisions of actors. National interests are the economic, political, religious, cultural, and social values that a state seeks to protect. Thus, leaders make alliances that they believe will supplement their endeavors. In this scenario, it is in the interest of both Germany and the Sub-Saharan countries to forge economic alliances. Germany will benefit from an alternative energy supplier to Russia, and Nigeria and Ghana will benefit from the support of Germany’s strong economy.