Development of trade and economic cooperation between Ukraine and African countries in the context of transformations of the african vector of ukrainian diplomacy

Abstract

The current state and prospects for the development of trade and economic cooperation between Ukraine and African countries are considered in the prism of changes in the approaches of Ukrainian diplomacy to building foreign relations with the countries of the African continent, due to the implementation of the provisions of the new foreign policy strategy of Ukraine, adopted in the early 2020s. The subject of the article is trade and economic cooperation between Ukraine and the countries of the African continent in the context of the transformation of the African vector of Ukrainian foreign policy, with an emphasis on the development of economic diplomacy as a tool for implementing national interests. The aim is to study the current state and dynamics of trade and economic relations between Ukraine and African countries, to identify key directions, trends and challenges in the process of intensifying the Ukrainian foreign policy on the African continent. The objectives of the work are to identify changes in Ukraine's foreign policy priorities towards Africa and assess increased Ukraine's diplomacy in the African region in 2021-2024; to analyze the geographical and product structure of Ukraine's foreign trade cooperation, in particular Ukrainian exports, with African countries; to outline the main directions and instruments of Ukraine's economic diplomacy towards Africa; to consider challenges and opportunities for further deepening trade and economic cooperation between Ukraine and African countries. The following results were obtained in the course of the study: changes in Ukraine's foreign policy priorities towards Africa and the increased diplomatic presence of Ukraine on the African continent; indicators of Ukraine's foreign trade cooperation with African countries analyzed; the main directions and instruments of Ukraine's economic diplomacy in building relations with the African region identified; challenges and opportunities for further deepening trade and economic ties between Ukraine and African countries considered. Conclusions: the results obtained made it possible to objectively consider trade and economic relations between Ukraine and the African region in the context of the transformation of Ukraine's foreign policy priorities in relation to the continent and the intensification of economic and diplomatic activity in the African direction.