From March 19 through April 2, 2026, U.S. Ambassador John Giordano conducted a series of high-level engagements in Washington, D.C., Houston, and Windhoek to strengthen U.S.-Namibia cooperation in energy security, critical minerals, and industrial supply chains. Following President Trump’s America First agenda, these efforts position Namibia as a key strategic partner in securing the resources and infrastructure necessary for the next era of industrial power.
Ambassador Giordano utilized forums in Washington, D.C. and Houston to highlight how American investment-led development bolsters the security and prosperity of both nations. These efforts align with his mandate to establish Namibia as a key strategic partner for the United States in uranium, energy, logistics, and supply chain resilience.
#PoweringAfrica Summit and the Atlantic Council Roundtable – Washington, D.C.
At the Powering Africa Summit in Washington, D.C. on March 19, Ambassador Giordano spoke alongside U.S. Department of State Senior Africa Bureau Official Nick Checker, and representatives from the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM), the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), Millenium Challenge Corporation, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on how American investment-led development is deepening the U.S.-Namibia partnership and strengthening shared energy and supply chain security. He emphasized that the future of industrial power rests on three pillars: reliable energy, secure mineral supply chains, and the infrastructure that connects them at scale.
“Countries like Namibia that can deliver these three elements at scale will shape the global economy in the decades ahead. Our focus is on ensuring that American innovation, expertise, and capital are at the heart of this transformation, strengthening U.S.-Namibia energy security and building a foundation for long-term partnership,” Ambassador Giordano said.
At a closed-door Atlantic Council roundtable, he engaged senior policy and business leaders on mobilizing American investment and expertise to enhance U.S. economic security and support strategic growth in Namibia, stressing that Namibia’s resource base and stable, rule-of-law environment make it a reliable partner for advancing shared priorities in energy, infrastructure, and critical minerals.
CERAWeek’s Africa Forum – Houston, Texas
At the CERAWeek’s Africa Forum in Houston on March 24, Ambassador Giordano spoke with public and private sector leaders to examine the essential systems for economic expansion and the strategic development of a Namibia-anchored energy corridor in Southern Africa.
“The real competition isn’t between resources, fuels, minerals, or talent – it’s between countries and regions that can move decisively to develop integrated systems at scale and those that cannot,” Ambassador Giordano said.
The Ambassador also detailed how the Port of Walvis Bay is rapidly emerging as the terminus of a Southern Africa energy security and logistics corridor. “Walvis Bay is not just a gateway for Namibian exports—it is a strategic hub linking the region’s energy and mineral flows to global markets and positioning the region to support future oil and gas development. Its modern infrastructure, efficient operations, and expanding capacity are enabling the movement of critical commodities, equipment, and fuels throughout Southern Africa,” Ambassador Giordano noted.
Official Engagement with Minister of Industry, Mines, and Energy – Windhoek
Back in Namibia, on April 2, Ambassador Giordano engaged with Namibia’s Minister of Industries, Mines, and Energy, Hon. Modestus Amutse on the strategic shift in the U.S.-Namibia partnership – focusing on strategic trade, investor-led development, capital deployment, and industrial resilience.
The meeting focused on expanding U.S. investment in Namibia’s offshore oil and gas sectors while utilizing tools U.S. Development Finance Corporation, EXIM, and USTDA to mobilize capital for critical mineral exploration and value-added industrial projects as well as infrastructure projects to bolster the Southern African energy corridor. Their dialogue also highlighted mutual interest in civil nuclear energy, leveraging Namibia’s status as a top uranium producer to support a secure and diversified global energy mix.
Ambassador Giordano’s engagements in Washington, D.C., Houston, and Windhoek reflect a single, strategic objective: to align American innovation, capital, and expertise with Namibia’s growing role in global energy and mineral systems. As the United States works to secure resilient supply chains and long-term energy security, the U.S. Mission in Namibia will continue to partner with Namibian leaders, industry, and communities to build durable, investment-driven partnerships that advance both countries’ security and prosperity.