President Joe Biden's December 2024 visit to Angola marks a significant milestone in U.S - Africa relations, positioning Angola as a pivotal player in the broader rivalry between the two countries.
President Joe Biden's December 2024 visit to Angola marks a significant milestone in U.S - Africa relations, positioning Angola as a pivotal player in the increasing rivalry between the two countries. This trip, Biden's first to Africa as President and the first U.S presidential visit to Angola since its independence, underscores Angola's strategic importance in global geopolitics.
Central to the visit is the Lobito Corridor, a $1–2 billion infrastructure project connecting Angola’s port city of Lobito to the mineral-rich Central African Copperbelt in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Supported by the U.S under the G7's Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), this initiative is seen as a counter to China's expansive Belt and Road Initiative. It aims to secure critical resources like copper and cobalt, essential for semiconductors and green technologies, while offering Angola an alternative to Beijing’s economic influence.
Historically aligned with the Soviet Union during the Cold War and closely tied to China in recent decades, Angola is now navigating a more multipolar foreign policy. The country remains one of China's largest trading partners in Africa, with Chinese investments dominating its oil and infrastructure sectors. However, recent U.S. engagements, including increased military aid and economic partnerships, highlight Angola's growing willingness to diversify its alliances.
Biden’s visit builds on earlier diplomatic milestones, such as Angola's abstention on key United Nations votes related to Russia and its collaboration with U.S. programs in energy and security. Angola has also joined initiatives like the Artemis Accords for space exploration, aligning it with U.S.-led projects over Chinese alternatives..
The visit reflects a broader U.S. strategy to reassert influence in Africa amid growing Chinese and Russian involvement. By investing in Angola's infrastructure and fostering partnerships, the U.S. seeks to challenge China's dominant position while promoting economic growth and regional stability. The success of these efforts may hinge on addressing Angola’s internal challenges, including high poverty rates and governance issues, to ensure tangible benefits for its population.
Angola’s ability to balance its relationships with major powers while advancing its national interests exemplifies the evolving dynamics in the U.S - Africa relations and the continent's critical role in shaping the global order. As the U.S deepens its engagement, Africa’s importance in geopolitical competition is becoming increasingly evident.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Türkiye on Wednesday as part of a large delegation for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan....
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis oversaw the signing of seven cooperation agreements in Ankara on ...
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi became embroiled in a shouting match with Democratic lawmakers during a combative House Judiciary Committee hearing on...
Russia will continue to adhere to the strategic missile and warhead ceilings set under the now-expired New START agreement, provided the United States...
Day five of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics delivered raw emotion, technical brilliance and striking alpine backdrops as athletes battled for ...
Joe Biden has undergone a surgical procedure to remove cancerous skin cells and is recovering well, according to NBC News.
During his visit to the migrant detention centre in the Florida Everglades, known as 'Alligator Alcatraz,' U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that former president Joe Biden wanted him imprisoned there.
Joe Biden has publicly thanked people around the world for their support after announcing he’s battling an aggressive form of prostate cancer.
JD Vance arrived in Armenia on Monday (9 February), becoming the first sitting U.S. Vice President to visit the country, as Yerevan and Washington agreed to cooperate in the civil nuclear sector in a bid to deepen engagement in the South Caucasus.
The United States and Azerbaijan signed a strategic partnership in Baku on Tuesday (10 February) encompassing economic and security cooperation as Washington seeks to expand its influence in a region where Russia was once the main power broker.
Buckingham Palace said it is ready to support any police investigation into allegations that Prince Andrew shared confidential British trade documents with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as King Charles expressed “profound concern” over the latest revelations.
U.S. military forces have seized a sanctioned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean after tracking the vessel from the Caribbean Sea, the Pentagon said on Monday.
“Peace is not just about signing treaties - it’s about communication, interaction and integration,” Sultan Zahidov, leading adviser at the AIR Center, told AnewZ, suggesting U.S. Vice President JD Vance's visit to the South Caucasus could advance the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Türkiye on Wednesday as part of a large delegation for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi became embroiled in a shouting match with Democratic lawmakers during a combative House Judiciary Committee hearing on 11 February 2026, after she refused to apologise to Jeffrey Epstein survivors seated in the room.
Russia will continue to adhere to the strategic missile and warhead ceilings set under the now-expired New START agreement, provided the United States does not exceed those thresholds, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told lawmakers on Wednesday.
Day five of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics delivered raw emotion, technical brilliance and striking alpine backdrops as athletes battled for medals across northern Italy. Photographers continue capturing the defining moments of the Games, freezing triumph and celebration in images.
China has unveiled a redesigned version of its state-backed digital currency, marking the latest step in the country’s long-running effort to modernise how money moves through its economy.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment