# Former State Department Insider on Washington's Muddled Africa Policy

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-china-in-africa-podcast-420743/former-state-department-insider-on-washington-s-muddled-africa-policy
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-china-in-africa-podcast-420743/former-state-department-insider-on-washington-s-muddled-africa-policy.md
Podcast: [The China in Africa Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-china-in-africa-podcast-420743)
Published: 2026-06-10T09:02:00+00:00
Episode link: https://b3f2a027-658f-4f2b-812a-d8c56362e481.libsyn.com/former-state-department-insider-on-washingtons-muddled-africa-policy
Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/b3f2a027-658f-4f2b-812a-d8c56362e481/CAP_-_Dan_Kobayashi.mp3?dest-id=4284093
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-china-in-africa-podcast-420743/episodes/former-state-department-insider-on-washington-s-muddled-africa-policy
Duration seconds: 4207

## Resource

Dan Kobayashi spent 16 years working as a U.S. diplomat focused on African issues, both at posts in Lesotho, Zambia, and Malawi, among others, and at the State Department's intelligence bureau in Washington, D.C. He had a close-up view of how U.S.-Africa policy has evolved over the years, particularly as it relates to China's expanding presence on the continent. Today, Dan is out of government and works as a geopolitical risk consultant in Geneva, where he also writes for his new Expatriach Substack. He joins Eric, Cobus, and Géraud to share an insider's perspective on the current state of U.S. policy towards Africa and why the notion that Washington is competing with Beijing for influence in the region is outdated. 📌 Topics Covered in this Episode Inside Washington's Africa policymaking Trump's changing approach to Africa The China "debt trap" debate U.S.-China competition in Africa Aid cuts, visas, and diplomacy What's next for U.S.-Africa relations? Show Notes: Sign up to The Expatriach Substack Expatriarch: USAID Is Unlikely to Be Replaced With Something Better Any Time Soon, So Stop Pretending by Dan Kobayashi Expatriarch: My Resignation from the State Department by Dan Kobayashi Join the Discussion: X: @ChinaGSProject | @eric_olander | @christiangeraud | @stadenesque Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChinaAfricaProject YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ChinaGlobalSouth Now on Bluesky! Follow CGSP at @chinagsproject.bsky.social Follow CGSP in French and Spanish: French: www.projetafriquechine.com | @AfrikChine Spanish: www.chinalasamericas.com | @ChinaAmericas Join us on Patreon! Become a CGSP Patreon member and get all sorts of cool stuff, including our Week in Review report, an invitation to join monthly Zoom calls with Eric & Cobus, and even an awesome new CGSP Podcast mug! w…

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