Biden's historic Angola visit marks a shift in global power play as the US, EU, Russia, and China vie for influence in Africa's future.
Digital Worldwide News | October 7, 2024
By DWN reporter
For the past several years, Africa's vast reserves of critical minerals—essential for producing electric cars, smartphones, and renewable energy technologies—have made the continent the epicenter of a global tug-of-war. Countries like the U.S., China, Russia, and the EU are scrambling to secure access to these resources, and Angola is emerging as a key player in this unfolding drama.
Take this post from Vera Eliane (@veraesanto05), a Twitter user who encapsulated the national anticipation perfectly:
"Angola is preparing to welcome U.S. President Joe Biden for the first time in its history, just one week from now."
And Biden himself echoed this sentiment in a statement from his official Twitter account (@POTUS):
"Simply put, the partnership between Angola and America is more important and more impactful than ever."
This relationship is indeed significant. Angola, historically aligned with Russia and China, is pivoting westward under President João Lourenço’s leadership. The shift has caught the attention of global powers, and Biden’s visit symbolizes the U.S.'s determination to fortify this budding alliance.
Angola’s ties with the U.S. have been long and complicated. The country gained independence from Portugal in 1975 and quickly descended into a brutal civil war. During that conflict, the U.S. supported the anti-communist UNITA rebels, while the Soviet Union and Cuba backed Angola’s ruling MPLA party.
Despite this, oil has always connected the two nations. American oil giants like Chevron have been major players in Angola’s economy since the early 1990s, contributing significantly to the national budget.
Today, with Russia and China still playing major roles in Angola’s political and economic spheres, the question is how Biden’s visit might reshape the balance of power in this strategically important country.
"It is a marker of how Africa’s 54 countries are increasingly courted by global powers, drawn to the continent by geopolitical shifts and an abundance of minerals needed for electric cars and other battery-powered technologies."
This isn’t just a story of economic growth or political maneuvering—this is a moment where the very future of Angola could be shaped by the relationships forged in the coming weeks.
At the heart of Biden's trip is the Lobito Corridor, a 1,000-mile railway project linking the copper-rich regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia to Angola’s Atlantic coast. This initiative could transform Angola into a crucial hub for the global supply chain of critical minerals like cobalt and copper—resources essential to the clean energy transition.
The $4 billion investment in this corridor is a clear indication of the U.S.'s interest in gaining a foothold in Africa, particularly as China’s Belt and Road Initiative has faced criticism and challenges in delivering returns on infrastructure investments.
For decades, Angola’s close ties with Russia and China seemed unshakeable. Russian arms and Chinese infrastructure loans have propped up Angola’s government for years. In fact, China lent Angola $46 billion over the last two decades to build roads, bridges, and railways, making it one of the largest recipients of Chinese loans in Africa.
However, with global economic and political shifts, Angola is now positioning itself as a neutral player, eager to work with any nation willing to invest in its future.
As Angola seeks to diversify its partnerships, the United States is stepping up. Biden’s visit could be a turning point in Angola’s geopolitical role in Africa, and it’s clear that both the U.S. and Angola have a lot to gain.
In the age of digital diplomacy, the court of public opinion plays a larger role than ever before. Across social media platforms, people from all walks of life are weighing in on what Biden’s visit could mean for Angola’s future.
Some Twitter users, like José Gama, an Angolan journalist living in South Africa, voiced their concerns about human rights issues in Angola:
"We thought Biden would help Angola with human rights. Hopes were high when he committed to fighting authoritarianism in 2021."
His tweet taps into a broader question about whether the U.S. will push for democratic reforms in Angola or simply focus on securing access to resources and infrastructure deals.
Biden’s visit is emblematic of the broader global competition for Africa’s resources. As countries like the U.S., China, and Russia jockey for influence, African nations like Angola are in a prime position to leverage this interest for their own benefit.
As Ricardo Soares de Oliveira, an Oxford professor, noted in a recent interview:
"The Angolan aspiration is to have as many partners as possible and extract as much from these relationships as possible. They don’t want to choose."
This strategy could serve Angola well as it balances relationships with global powers, using investments from the U.S., China, and others to boost its own economic development.
As Biden’s visit draws near, all eyes are on Angola. The stakes are high for both countries, and the potential outcomes of this historic meeting are monumental.
But this is not just about two presidents shaking hands. It’s about Angola stepping into a new role on the global stage. It’s about the U.S. racing to catch up with China’s influence in Africa. And most importantly, it’s about the people of Angola, who stand to benefit—or lose—from these shifting alliances.
Stay tuned, because this is a story that’s only just beginning.