Biden Welcomes Angolan President as US Aims to Strengthen Relationships in Africa
President Joe Biden aims to reaffirm his commitment to Africa by meeting Angolan President João Manuel Goncalves Lourenço in the Oval Office on Nov. 30.
Despite his administration focusing on two wars in Ukraine and Israel, US President Joe Biden is keen on strengthening his relationship with Africa. Angola has transitioned away from Russian and Chinese influence under Mr. Lourenço’s term.
The meeting lasted less than one hour, and Mr. Lourenço expressed optimism about the future relationship between the two countries.
President Biden commented on the event, emphasizing the importance of the US-Angola relationship.
Mr. Lourenço thanked the president for the invitation and expressed Angola’s willingness to cooperate with the US in various sectors.
Although senior US officials have traveled to Africa in 2023, President Biden seems to be breaking his vow to African leaders to visit the continent this year.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Thursday that Angola is a strategic partner for the United States and the two leaders will discuss economic and security cooperation as well as regional and global issues.
US–Angola Partnership
The Biden administration has emphasized its commitment to the US–Angola partnership through various initiatives such as infrastructure and economic deals, high-level engagements, and collaboration on global and regional priorities.
Addressing regional security challenges has been a focal point of collaboration and the United States will acknowledge Angola’s diplomatic efforts in this area.
Angola’s involvement in global issues, such as Russia’s war in Ukraine and the signing of the Artemis Accords, is highlighted for its perceived leadership role. The Artemis Accords outline principles for civil space exploration and use in the 21st century, with Angola being the third African country to sign.
The meeting is expected to involve a review of progress and discussions on the future direction of the partnership between President Biden and Mr. Lourenço. The meeting is framed by the administration official as reflective of a shared commitment to mutual cooperation, economic development, and addressing global challenges.
The visit coincides with the unveiling of a Trans-African Corridor by President Biden and his allies, linking the Lobito port in Angola with landlocked regions of the African continent.
A significant portion of the Biden administration’s recent foreign policy attention has been devoted to the conflict between Israel and Hamas and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. President Biden has emphasized the need to increase support for Israel and Ukraine amid two violent, unpredictable, and divisive conflicts.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
