Monrovia — A January 15, 2025, letter from the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) to Secretary of State Antony Blinken has shed new light on U.S. policy regarding Liberia’s National Rail Authority (NRA). The development comes as President Donald Trump returns to the White House, pledging to scrutinize U.S. foreign policy in line with his “America First” agenda.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
The SFRC letter confirms that funding for the NRA through the Countering People’s Republic of China Influence Fund (CPIF) was blocked, directly contradicting claims made by High Power Exploration (HPX). This revelation highlights the lack of U.S. government support for HPX’s efforts to align the NRA with U.S. strategic interests in the region.
The SFRC Letter and the NRA
The SFRC letter specifically mentions that CFIP funding for Liberia’s NRA was denied, citing broader concerns about the effectiveness and transparency of CFIP implementation. This directly undermines HPX’s narrative, which has long suggested that the NRA aligns with US objectives to counter Chinese influence.
“The Department also used weak or even bogus counter-PRC justifications to secure CPIF funding,” writes Senator James Elroy Risch, Chairman, US Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “In September, I blocked a CPIF project supporting the establishment of a National Railway Authority in Liberia. SFRC oversight revealed the project would not strengthen Liberia...
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