MONROVIA – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to promoting Liberia’s image on the global stage and attracting credible international partnerships aimed at national development. “My role is to sell Liberia positively; we want Liberia to be great again,” President Boakai declared on Friday, July 11, 2025, upon his arrival at the Roberts International Airport following a trip to the United States where he attended the US-Africa Summit.
Speaking to Executive Mansion reporters on the airport tarmac, the Liberian leader said his interactions with U.S. government officials, including President Donald Trump, centered on strengthening diplomatic and trade ties, and inviting American expertise to assist Liberia in assessing its natural resources. According to President Boakai, the U.S. has been requested to dispatch technical experts to carry out a national geological survey to determine the full scope of Liberia’s resource potential.
Addressing questions about his earlier reference to a Chinese-conducted assessment during his State of the Nation Address, President Boakai clarified that the survey by China only covered two of Liberia’s 15 counties. “I didn’t say it was comprehensive,” he explained. “The survey was done in two counties. While we ask the Chinese to continue, we also ask the Americans. We want to know what we have to plan for it.”
The President said Liberia lacks the necessary technology to conduct such surveys independently and emphasized the importance of having credible, transparent assessments as the foundation for long-term planning and responsible investment. “Our interest is to make sure we know what we have,” he said.
He stressed that Liberia’s foreign policy is rooted in mutual respect and partnership, with a focus on trade and investment rather than dependency. “We’re not just talking; we’re acting. We want them to know that our diplomatic policy aligns with theirs, thinking Liberia first,” he said. “That was a very positive move.”
When asked about his global media presence, which included coverage by BBC and Al Jazeera during his U.S. trip, President Boakai said, “How that happened depends on the rest of the world. But we want Liberia to be great, and that’s what we’re doing.”
In a related development, Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti addressed questions surrounding remarks made by U.S. President Donald Trump about President Boakai’s accent during their meeting. Speaking in an interview with CNN, Minister Nyanti said there was “no offense” taken by the Liberian leader and clarified the linguistic context.
“Many people do not understand the linguistic borders or linguistic demography of the African continent,” she said. “What President Trump heard distinctly was the American influence on our English in Liberia, and the Liberian president is not offended by that.”
Minister Nyanti further explained that the intonation President Trump referenced reflects Liberia’s historical connection to the United States. “We know that English has different accents and forms, and so him picking up the distinct intonation that has its roots in American English for us was just recognizing a familiar English version,” she added.
Meanwhile, President Boakai’s trip to the U.S. marks a continued effort by his administration to rebrand Liberia’s global image, attract responsible investment, and build strategic partnerships aimed at restoring confidence in the country’s governance and economic future.
