Geopolitical Rivalry and Strategic Infrastructure: The Lobito Corridor in Africa

Although President Trump’s administration is generally known for cutting foreign aid and prioritizing domestic spending, the Lobito Corridor project— originally championed under the Biden administration— has received renewed support under Trump.

In April 2025, U.S. chargé d’affaires to Angola, James Story, confirmed that Trump remains committed to the corridor as part of a broader strategy to secure access to critical minerals like copper and cobalt, which are essential for electric vehicles and AI technologies.

The Lobito Corridor, a transnational rail and infrastructure project stretching from Angola to the mineral-rich regions of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), represents a transformative initiative in Africa’s strategic geography. Backed by the United States and the European Union under the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), it stands as a counterpoint to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

This paper explores the Lobito Corridor as a focal point of 21st-century geopolitical competition, infrastructure development, and African agency within a rapidly evolving multipolar order.

The Lobito Corridor is more than a logistical artery; it is a stage where global powers contend for influence over Africa’s resource corridors. The United States and European Union have positioned the corridor as an alternative to China’s BRI, aiming to reduce dependency on Beijing for critical minerals such as cobalt, copper, and lithium. These minerals are essential for the green transition, making the corridor crucial for global energy and technological agendas (1).

The corridor spans over 1,300 kilometers from the port of Lobito to Kolwezi in the DRC and has ambitions of extension into Zambia’s Copperbelt. The consortium operating the Lobito Atlantic Railway includes European entities like Trafigura and Mota- Engil, with plans to invest over $800 million (2). The project also receives strategic and financial backing from the U.S. International DevelopmentFinance Corporation and the EU’s Global Gateway initiative (3).

Despite the West’s framing of the corridor as a geopolitical lever, African nations have pursued the project to enhance industrialization and regional integration. Governments in Angola, the DRC, and Zambia are advocating for value addition to mineral exports and envision the corridor as a platform for agro-processing, energy development, and skills transfer. However, differing national priorities, governance challenges, and infrastructure gaps complicate coherent implementation (4)

The corridor’s viability is contingent on its ability to generate sufficient mineral and non-mineral freight, integrate with local economies, and offer a viable alternative to established routes like TAZARA. While the West emphasizes governance and ESG standards, China’s model—based on rapid financing and construction—still appeals to many African states (5). A sustainable Lobito Corridor must reconcile commercial viability with inclusive development.

Notes:

1. Africa’s Strategic Trade Corridors in 2025: A Trip – pp. 1–3.

2. The US-backed Railway Sparking a Battle for African Copper – Financial Times, Aug 2024.

3. The Lobito Corridor – OECD EMF Background Note, 2025.

4. The Lobito Corridor: Between European Geopolitics and African Agency – ECDPM Discussion Paper, 2025.

5. The Lobito Corridor: The West’s Bid Against Chinese Domination – ORF, 2023.