Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 04/2009

Energy Interests and Alliances: China, America and Africa

Angelica Austin, Danila Bochkarev, Willem van der Geest

August 2008

EastWest Institute

Abstract

EWI has released a new policy paper arguing for joint action by the United States and China to support the energy security of Africans. Despite the visible tensions over Sudan, China and the United States have far more energy interests in common in Africa than generally assumed. This is no zero-sum game. Their bilateral cooperation needs to open up new horizons in Africa.