President William Ruto and United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio have held talks in New York on strengthening Kenya-US cooperation in trade, technology, critical minerals, energy and regional security.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly as Kenya seeks to deepen its economic and strategic partnership with the United States.
Ruto said the relationship between the two countries remains anchored on trade, security, technology and development.
Trade and AI take centre stage
During the talks, Ruto welcomed the extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), saying it would help strengthen trade between Africa and the United States while creating additional economic opportunities.
“We welcome the extension of AGOA, which will strengthen trade between Africa and the United States and expand economic opportunities,” Ruto said.
The two sides also discussed cooperation in emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence and its application in sectors including healthcare, education and financial services.
Ruto and Rubio further explored how the two countries can support responsible governance of rapidly advancing AI technologies, amid growing international discussions on the opportunities and risks associated with the technology.
AI governance has been a prominent issue at this year’s UN discussions, with governments and international institutions examining how rapidly developing technologies should be regulated and used responsibly.
Critical minerals and energy cooperation
Critical minerals also featured in the discussions, with the United States expressing interest in opportunities linked to Kenya’s mineral resources and potential value addition.
According to US State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott, Rubio and Ruto discussed how Kenya’s critical minerals sector could position the country for greater participation in the global industry while creating opportunities for US companies to support value addition.
The leaders also explored possible cooperation in nuclear energy as Kenya looks to expand its energy options and attract investment in strategic sectors.
The discussions come as Kenya continues to seek greater investment and partnerships around its mineral resources, renewable energy potential and industrial development.
Somalia, Haiti and Sudan on security agenda
Regional and international security were also central to the meeting.
Ruto said the two sides discussed sustaining the security mission in Somalia, supporting stability in Haiti and responding to the worsening humanitarian situation in Sudan.
“We discussed sustaining the security mission in Somalia, supporting stability in Haiti, and addressing the worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan through efforts towards a ceasefire, political settlement and continued regional engagement,” Ruto said.
Kenya has played a role in regional security efforts, particularly in Somalia, while also contributing to international efforts aimed at addressing instability and humanitarian crises beyond East Africa.
Health partnership also discussed
Rubio also acknowledged Kenya’s cooperation with the US Government in implementing the America First Global Health Strategy.
The initiative is intended to establish a new approach to the longstanding health partnership between Kenya and the United States.
The discussions therefore covered a broad range of areas, from trade and investment to emerging technology, energy, minerals, health and regional security.
The meeting reflects the continuing breadth of Kenya-US engagement as both countries pursue cooperation on economic development, technology and security issues.
