Mar. 27, 2023: Harris in Africa, Israel in crisis

POLITICO Playbook Daily Briefing

Good Monday morning from Accra, Ghana, where VP Kamala Harris is kicking off a seven-day diplomatic mission to Africa, aiming to reset relations between the United States and the three countries she’s visiting — Ghana, Zambia and Tanzania — as China looks to deepen its foothold on the continent.

Playbook is with Harris as she becomes the latest and highest-ranking administration official to travel to Africa as part of President Joe Biden's effort to reengage with the continent economically after decades of relations focused mainly on human rights and humanitarian concerns.

Her schedule includes bilateral meetings with the leaders of each of the three nations, a visit to Ghana’s Cape Coast slave castle, announcements of new public-private investments, confabs with business and philanthropic leaders and even a trip to a local music studio.

Harris must balance myriad diplomatic goals …

• Prove to African nations that the U.S. — like China — is willing to invest hard dollars in their countries as true partners …
• While not framing those partnerships as merely part of a global clash of superpowers …
• And also changing how Americans see the continent in order to generate more private investment.