United States ambassador John Giordano says the era of diplomacy based solely on dialogue is over, with American foreign engagement now focused on turning discussions into commercial deals.
Speaking at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington DC on Tuesday, Giordano said the US was shifting towards “commercial diplomacy” focused on trade, investment and partnerships.
“Whether dialogues are happening in green rooms, Africa, or on the ground in places like Namibia, one thing has absolutely become unmistakable: The era of diplomacy and dialogue alone is absolutely over. It’s about deals,” he said.
Giordano said commercial diplomacy was not simply about identifying opportunities, but creating conditions for those opportunities to move towards execution through engagement between governments, businesses and institutions.
Under president Donald Trump’s administration, he said, US diplomacy has a clear purpose: advancing American interests, creating opportunities for US companies, strengthening the American economy and building partnerships based on reciprocity.
“This means moving from dialogue to delivery,” he said, adding that diplomacy creates opportunities while execution turns them into prosperity.
Giordano said Africa possesses some of the world’s key energy resources, critical minerals, transportation corridors and rapidly growing markets.
He said Africa’s projected purchasing power exceeds US$16 trillion, while US exports to sub-Saharan Africa account for less than 1% of total US goods trade.
“This gap represents a commercial opportunity,” he said.
Giordano said Namibia was positioned at the intersection of global economic trends, including artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and quantum computing.
He described Namibia as an emerging petroleum country with strategic resources and noted the participation of US companies such as Chevron.
However, he cautioned that resources alone would not deliver prosperity.
“Capital moves when investors believe rules are clear, institutions are reliable and contracts are respected,” he said.
