Beijing owns Gabon’s present. Trump can buy its future

The 2023 military coup in Gabon ended more than 50 years of Bongo family rule. After years of corruption and disputed elections, the coup gave the Gabonese people hope that they could begin a new chapter. The political transition also created an opportunity to boost U.S. engagement with the country where China has established a strong presence.In 2025, Gabon was one of just five African countries whose leaders were invited to the White House for talks focused on trade, investment, and other business opportunities. During the meeting, Gabon’s new president, Brice Oligui Nguema, made clear that Gabon is seeking win-win partnerships with U.S. entities and said that it seeks American investment to help process more of the country’s mineral resources. His statement aligns with the Trump administration’s policy on Africa, which increasingly focuses on trade and investment rather than foreign aid.Despite decades of declining oil production, Gabon remains an important partner to Washington. In 2024, Gabon was the world’s second-largest manganese producer, accounting for 25% of global production. It also produces other minerals, including cement, gold, and silicomanganese. Manganese is particularly important to U.S. interests because it is used in steel and battery production, and the United States has relied on manganese imports for many decades. But Washington is not the only power interested in Gabon’s mineral wealth. China has spent decades building economic ties with Libreville, committing efforts to help achieve Gabon’s goals of industrialization, modernization, and combating poverty. After launching a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in 2023, the two countries further strengthened their relations, and Gabon became the 11th African country to forge such a relationship with China. In 2024, China received 31.2% of all Gabonese exports, making China Gabon’s largest export destination, while the U.S. received only 3.2%. China’s relationship with Gabon also extends beyond trade. Chinese companies have shown interest in financing and developing mining-related infrastructure, including transportation and energy projects that would support Gabon’s growing mineral industry.China’s strong position in Gabon does not mean that Washington has missed its opportunity. Gabon’s new government has already made clear that it wants additional foreign investment, particularly from the U.S. Therefore, Gabon’s stance on the U.S. allows the Trump administration to engage with the country. Rather than seeking access to minerals alone, the U.S. should also support local processing of critical minerals in Gabon by investing in the energy and transportation infrastructure needed to make that processing possible.Such an approach would benefit both countries. Gabon would gain investment and infrastructure, while the U.S. could diversify its critical mineral supply chains and expand American companies’ presence in a market where China has established significant influence. It would also fit the Trump administration’s broader shift toward a “trade, not aid” approach in Africa, which emphasizes commercial partnerships and investment.IF MARCO RUBIO WANTS TO COUNTER BEIJING, HE NEEDS TO MEET SOMALILAND’S PRESIDENT TODAYGabon could also serve as an example for U.S. engagement with other resource-rich African countries. Many of these countries have developed strong economic ties with China but are also seeking new sources of investment. If the U.S. can respond to Gabon’s needs, it could strengthen its position in the country and show other African governments that Washington can offer an alternative to relying heavily on China.Washington is unlikely to replace China as one of Gabon’s major partners anytime soon. However, by responding to Libreville’s demand for investment and domestic mineral processing, the U.S. can give Gabon more options and reduce its reliance on Beijing. The political transition that ended the Bongo dynasty has created an opening. Washington now has an opportunity to use it.Yagiz Sullu, Ph.D., is the founder and lead analyst at Sullu Strategic Advisory. He holds a Ph.D. in planning, governance, and globalization from Virginia Tech’s School of Public and International Affairs, where his research focused on governance, political risk, energy policy, and authoritarian resilience in resource-dependent countries.