Roundtables Discussion Part I

Navigating New Geopolitical Realities

The global economy is in the midst of rapid and profound change. From the emergence of a multipolar world order and radical geopolitical shifts, to revolutionary breakthroughs in technology, and the global transition to a green economy, new realities are redefining markets, partnerships, and business.

Africa finds itself at the nexus of these trends. Home to many of the world’s fastest-growing economies, a young and fast-growing population, and vast resource wealth, the continent’s importance to, and influence on global events is increasing. New partnerships and trading relationships are transforming the economic landscape, representing an unprecedented opportunity for key economies like Nigeria  to leverage such trends to drive growth, investment, and development.

Against this backdrop an ever growing list of suitors - from the Americas, to Europe, and Asia - are seeking stronger ties with the continent. In principle, this represents an unprecedented opportunity for African economies to seek out and build the most effective partnerships with a diverse set of regions and countries. But intensifying geopolitical competition - particularly between major powers in the West on the one hand, and Russia and China on the other - is also stoking concerns about a return to bloc politics, or even a “New Cold War”.

Balancing these dynamics, and effectively navigating new geopolitical realities is one of the big challenges facing Africa in the coming decades.