The Elephant in the Room: How Trump's Policies Will Shape the African Union Summit As the 39th annual meeting of the African Union kicks off this Friday, the absence of one notable figure will be palpable. Donald Trump, the President of the United States, will not be in attendance, but his policies will undoubtedly cast a long shadow over the proceedings. The Trump administration's seismic shift in foreign aid, trade, and immigration policies has left many African leaders scrambling to adapt. African countries have been grappling with the consequences of Trump's historic cuts to foreign aid, which accounted for 26% of the continent's foreign aid. The ripple effects of this reduction are already being felt, with many countries facing significant challenges in their development initiatives. Moreover, the US overhaul of its trade policy has introduced new tariffs and trade barriers, which have impacted African countries' access to international markets. The Trump administration's new bilateral agreements with African countries, focused on resources and security gains, have also raised eyebrows. While these agreements may provide short-term benefits, they are seen by many as a transactional approach to engagement, rather than a genuine partnership. This has led to a sense of uncertainty among African leaders, who are seeking to strike a balance between engaging with the new US leadership and diversifying their relations with other global actors. As Professor Carlos Lopes of the University of Cape Town in South Africa notes, African leaders are "hedging" by strengthening their relations with other global powers, including China, the Gulf states, and Europe. This is a deliberate strategy to avoid over-reliance on any single partner and to ensure that partnerships are reciprocal, predictable, and respectful. The defining theme of this summit will likely be recalibration on both sides – the US testing a more transactional model of engagement, and African leaders signaling that this approach will not be tolerated. Ultimately, the African Union summit will be a critical moment for African leaders to assert their interests and priorities. As they navigate the complex web of global relationships, they will need to be cautious of the potential consequences of Trump's policies. With the US shifting towards a more transactional approach, African leaders will need to be strategic in their engagement, ensuring that they maintain their sovereignty and independence in the face of emerging global power dynamics.