The Diplomat published on 24 February 2020 a commentary titled "Pompeo's Africa Trip Reinforces Message of Competition with China" by Eleanor Albert, PhD candidate at George Washington University.
The author commented that without explicitly naming China, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during his recent trip to Africa issued a warning to be wary of Beijing's investments, including the Belt and Road Initiative. She added that Pompeo's remarks frame the U.S. view of China's foreign policy and economic engagement in a competitive lens, one that echoes an adversarial tone that is reminiscent of the Cold War era.