All five countries invited have abundant natural resources, including manganese, iron ore, gold, diamonds, lithium and cobalt, which are essential for use in current technologies. China has made huge inroads in Africa in recent years, investing heavily across the continent, especially in resource extraction.

On Wednesday, Trump hosted leaders from Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal at the White House for talks and a working lunch, with discussions expected to centre on business opportunities, according to a White House official.

The meeting follows U.S. aid cuts and the recent dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development.