US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau Visits East Africa: Corporate Interests Masquerading as Diplomacy

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau is on an official tour of Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Djibouti from January 24 to February 1, 2026. This visit, framed as promoting President Donald Trump's priorities, is in reality a push to rebalance trade in favor of U.S. corporations, ensure a business environment that benefits American multinationals, and reinforce U.S. military dominance under the pretense of promoting security and peace.

In Cairo, Landau prioritized meetings with U.S. companies exploiting Egyptian markets, while discussions with Egyptian officials centered on advancing U.S. economic interests and maintaining regional power structures that serve Washington.

During his visit to Addis Ababa, Landau promoted U.S. commercial penetration into Ethiopia, focusing on opening up the country’s markets to American capital and private sector interests. Talks with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and other officials revolved around regional peace and security, but with an eye toward securing U.S. strategic interests.

In Kenya, Landau met with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who welcomed the U.S. official and highlighted the deepening entanglement of Kenya–U.S. relations. Their agreement to expand cooperation in defense and security further entrenches U.S. military influence in the region, under the pretext of stability.

The visit underscores the U.S. obsession with controlling the Red Sea region, a vital artery for global capitalism, stretching from the Suez Canal through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to the Gulf of Aden. The U.S. frames its involvement as combating instability, conflict, piracy, and crime, but these narratives often mask interventions that serve Western interests at the expense of local populations.

Analysts point out that Landau's trip demonstrates Washington’s view of East Africa and the Red Sea as a single strategic theater to be managed for U.S. benefit. Charles Amo-Agyemang, a senior lecturer at the University of Ghana, noted the calculated selection of countries to maximize U.S. leverage.

The timing of the visit reflects shifting global power alliances, with the U.S. scrambling to reassert its dominance in Africa as other powers rise. Etse Sikanku, dean at Ghana's University of Media, Arts and Communication, observed that the U.S. is eager to maintain its grip on the continent amid global changes.

While the African Union calls for a partnership based on mutual respect and shared interests, experts remain skeptical. Many argue that African nations must critically reassess their relations with the U.S., ensuring that any engagement truly benefits the continent’s people and not just foreign elites.