U.S. Vice President JD Vance has cancelled a scheduled diplomatic visit to Kenya later this month, following President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw all American participation from the G20 Leaders’ Summit slated to be held in South Africa on November 22–23.
Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Monday that the vice president’s visit was “linked directly” to Washington’s G20 pullout. Vance was expected in Nairobi immediately after the South Africa summit for bilateral talks on security cooperation, regional trade, and expanding U.S. private sector investment in East Africa.
The Trump administration’s withdrawal from the G20 has stirred controversy internationally. The White House said the U.S. would not attend due to what Trump described as “egregious human rights abuses” targeting white Afrikaners in South Africa—a claim repeatedly rejected by South Africa’s government and widely disputed by human rights researchers.
Kenya seeking to balance major power competition
Kenya, a long-standing strategic U.S. partner in counter-terror operations in the Horn of Africa, was declared a major non-NATO ally by President Joe Biden in 2024. Negotiations for a landmark U.S.–Kenya trade pact have been underway, aimed at replacing the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) benefits that expire in 2025. Nairobi has publicly expressed hope for a new bilateral agreement before the year ends.
Kenya has simultaneously expanded its economic cooperation with China—including financing of mega infrastructure projects and new renewable energy investments—drawing criticism from some U.S. lawmakers who accuse Nairobi of relying too heavily on Beijing’s lending.
Despite the diplomatic disruption, Kenya’s foreign ministry insisted the cancellation would not derail the broader relationship, describing U.S.–Kenya ties as “historic, resilient and mutually beneficial.”
The White House did not respond to requests for comment as of Monday evening, and it remains unclear if a new date will be set for Vance’s visit.
Source:Africa Publicity
