Tanzania reaffirms stronger ties with the US

Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan. [Suluhu, X]

President Samia Suluhu Hassan has reaffirmed her administration’s commitment to strengthening Tanzania’s diplomatic and economic ties with the United States, signaling a fresh chapter in the country’s foreign policy direction.

Speaking during the 249th US Independence Day celebrations in Dar es Salaam, Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Minister, Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, conveyed President Samia’s thoughts on the enduring partnership between the two nations. 

He highlighted that US investments in Tanzania, valued at over $80 billion, have significantly advanced key sectors, particularly healthcare, where millions of lives have been positively impacted.

Ambassador Kombo noted the historic ties dating back to the leadership of President John F. Kennedy and Tanzania’s founding father, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, underscoring a relationship built on shared values and mutual respect.

Under President Samia’s leadership, Tanzania has shifted towards an economic diplomacy model that emphasizes trade, investment, and development cooperation.

A newly launched foreign policy now aligns international engagement with national priorities, placing economic growth at the forefront.

Despite occasional criticism from civil society, the government maintains that this approach is necessary to elevate Tanzania’s global standing and attract strategic partnerships.

Kombo said the administration welcomes the US emphasis on trade over aid, viewing it as an opportunity for Tanzania to foster innovation, transparency, and sound governance.

He added that Tanzania remains committed to engaging global powers as an equal partner while safeguarding its sovereignty and values.