European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that investments under the EU’s Global Gateway program are expected to surpass €400 billion by 2027. Speaking at the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels, von der Leyen said the initiative, launched in 2021 to counter China’s growing global influence, has already mobilized €306 billion in four years. She highlighted major projects such as the Lobito Corridor in Africa, linking Angola to Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, saying it will “cut transport time from 45 days to one week.” Von der Leyen stressed that the initiative supports key sectors like clean energy, digital technology, and critical minerals while strengthening Africa’s food and health sovereignty.