U.S. President Donald Trump will meet with the leaders of Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal in Washington, D.C., from July 9 to 11, in what analysts see as a renewed push by the United States to strengthen ties with African nations.

The announcement of the mini-summit has come as a surprise, but follows a noticeable uptick in American diplomatic engagement across the continent. Just last month, the White House brokered a preliminary peace agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, aimed at ending months of conflict involving Rwandan-backed rebel groups in eastern DRC.

The upcoming talks are expected to be commercially focused. Trade relations and investment opportunities are likely to dominate the agenda.

Trump has made expanding business ties with African countries a cornerstone of his administration’s Africa policy, seeking to replace traditional humanitarian assistance and development programs with private sector driven engagement.

Plans for a larger U.S.-Africa summit in September have also been floated, although no official confirmation has been provided by either the White House or participating African governments.