Afrika’da Büyük Güç Rekabeti: Çin’in 21. Yüzyılda Artan Nüfuzu ve ABD’nin Tepkisi

Year 2022, Issue: 72, 78 - 91, 22.04.2022

Melih Yıldız

https://doi.org/10.51290/dpusbe.1022895

Abstract

Afrika yüzyıllardır Büyük Güç rekabeti açısından önemli bir bölge olmuştur. Kıta bu özelliğini 21. yüzyılda da korumaktadır. Çin’in son dönemde Afrika’da artan etkisi kıtada Washington-Pekin rekabetinin yaşanmaya başlanmasına neden olmuştur. Çin ile ABD arasında son yıllarda artarak devam eden Afrika’daki rekabet bu iki Büyük Gücün küresel rekabetinin seyrinde de önemli bir rol oynamaktadır. Ayrıca Afrika’nın sahip olduğu potansiyel dikkate alındığında kıtadaki bu rekabetin seyrinin küresel mücadeleye etkisinin gelecekte daha büyük olacağını söylemek mümkündür. Bu sebeple bu çalışmada iki ülke arasında Afrika’da gerçekleşen rekabetin analiz edilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Bu doğrultuda çalışmada Çin’in 21. yüzyılda Afrika’da gelişen nüfuzu ve ABD’nin buna yönelik politikaları incelenmektedir. Pekin’in Afrika’da artan nüfuzu çok büyük oranda kıta ile kurmuş olduğu ekonomik ilişkilere dayanmaktadır. Hızla büyüyen ticaret hacmi, artan yatırımlar, yardımlar ve borçlar Çin’i kıtadaki en etkili aktörlerden birine dönüştürmüştür. Bununla birlikte Pekin’in son yıllarda Afrika ile güvenlik ilişkilerini geliştirmeye ve kıtadaki askeri varlığını artırmaya yönelik attığı adımların rekabetin seyrinde önemli etkisi olmuştur. Bu doğrultuda Pekin’in Afrika’daki nüfuzu özellikle Obama döneminden itibaren Amerikan çıkarlarına ciddi bir tehdit olarak değerlendirilmeye başlanmıştır. Ancak ABD tarafından Çin’in Afrika’daki varlığına yönelik şikâyetler büyük oranda söylem düzeyinde kalmış ve bu sebeple ciddi sonuçlar elde edilememiştir.

Keywords

Afrika, Büyük Güç Rekabeti, Çin, ABD.

Great Power Competition in Africa: China’s Increasing Influence in the 21st Century and the US Reaction

Abstract

Africa has been an important region of Great Power competition for centuries. The continent maintains this feature in the 21st century as well. The increasing influence of China in Africa in the recent period has led to the start of the Washington-Beijing competition on the continent. The competition between China and the US in Africa, which has been increasing in recent years, plays an important role in the course of the global competition of these two Great Powers. In addition, considering the potential that Africa has, it is possible to say that the effect of the course of this competition on the continent on the global competition will be greater in the future. For this reason, in this study, it is aimed to analyze the competition between the two countries in Africa. In this regard, China's growing influence in Africa in the 21st century and the US policies towards it are examined in this study. Beijing's growing influence in Africa is largely based on its economic relations with the continent. The rapidly growing trade volume, increasing investments, aids and debts turned China into one of the most influential actors on the continent. In addition, the steps taken by Beijing to develop its security relations with Africa and increase its military presence in the continent in recent years had a significant effect on the course of competition. In this regard, Beijing's influence in Africa has been considered a serious threat to American interests, especially since the Obama era. However, complaints by the US about China's presence in Africa remained largely at the level of discourse, and therefore serious results could not be achieved.

Keywords

Africa, Great Power Competition, China, US.

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