Trump's choice for point man in Africa means US interests come first

The choice of Frank Garcia to lead US diplomatic relations in sub-Saharan Africa confirms new focus points in US foreign policy.

- By J Brooks Spector

Foreign analysts find it easy to focus on the destructive, mercurial words and deeds of US President Donald Trump and a few other of his senior officials, but they should also pay attention to those in the “engine room” of government.

Frank W Garcia is the Trump administration's nominee to be the next assistant secretary of state for African affairs. As such, he will be the senior official responsible for directing US government relations with the nations of Africa.

It is noteworthy that Garcia, a congressional staffer focusing on intelligence issues, has limited experience with African issues. Further, his appointment symbolises a turn in US government policies away from humanitarian issues and development assistance. Congressional staffers are important in making Congress and its committees work as they do the research and speech writing, and serve as a member's or a committee’s eyes and ears in dealing with the government bureaucracy.

Instead of the older consensus on America’s African policy, we can guess Garcia will focus much more on the transactional, reciprocal trade issues so beloved by Trump, as well as regional security concerns. In doing that, his efforts will demand close coordination with the Commerce Department, the US Trade Representative's office, the Department of Defense, as well as the intelligence community.

He will also have to figure out how to work with Massad Boulos, Trump’s special senior adviser for the Arab world and Africa — the man who was formerly a truck salesman in West Africa.

During 2025, Boulos was point man for Trump's diplomatic initiatives in Africa, such as bringing the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to an end. He has also led US involvement in the “Quads” initiative on Sudan, although the group, which also includes Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, has been unable so far to achieve a ceasefire in a conflict now reaching apocalyptic levels.