President Joe Biden is scheduled to make his first visit to Angola in the coming weeks, according to sources familiar with the matter. This landmark trip will mark the first time a sitting U.S. president has visited Angola and is seen as part of Biden’s broader effort to strengthen relations with African nations. The visit is expected to take place following the United Nations General Assembly in late September and before the U.S. presidential election in November.
The White House has not officially commented on the details of the trip, but Biden’s visit is seen as a strategic move to bolster ties with Angola, a nation rich in oil and natural resources. The visit comes at a time when the U.S. is competing with China’s growing influence across the African continent, as Beijing continues to invest heavily in African infrastructure and economic development.
Originally, Biden had planned to visit Angola in late 2023, but the trip was postponed due to the Israel-Hamas war that erupted in October. The visit was discussed during a White House meeting between Biden and Angolan President Joao Lourenço in November 2022, where both leaders expressed a desire to deepen cooperation between the two countries.
This trip follows several high-profile visits to Africa by senior U.S. officials in recent months, including Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, as the U.S. seeks to reposition itself as a key partner for African nations. Biden’s visit to Angola also comes on the heels of a historic visit by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in September 2023, further underscoring the growing importance of Angola in U.S. foreign policy.
Angola is a key player in the U.S.’s efforts to counter China’s influence in Africa, particularly in the energy and mining sectors. The U.S. has been backing a rail project that connects the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to Angola’s Lobito port, aimed at easing road congestion and facilitating the transport of copper and cobalt from the DRC, two critical minerals for global supply chains. This project, supported by the U.S., is seen as an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which has focused on building infrastructure across Africa.
While Biden has faced criticism for delaying a visit to Africa earlier in his term, his administration has made significant diplomatic efforts to strengthen ties with the continent. The U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., in December 2022 was a pivotal moment in Biden’s engagement with African nations, where he promised to increase collaboration on issues such as trade, security, and democracy.
Biden’s visit to Angola comes just weeks before the highly competitive U.S. presidential election on November 5. His Democratic Party is facing a tight race, with polls showing close competition between Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump. Trump’s controversial comments about African countries during his presidency continue to cast a shadow over U.S.-Africa relations, making Biden’s visit all the more important for reaffirming U.S. commitments to African nations.
As the U.S. looks to increase its presence in Africa, Biden’s visit to Angola is expected to highlight the growing partnership between the two countries and showcase U.S. support for Angola’s development. The visit will also emphasize the importance of strengthening ties with African democracies as the continent continues to play a crucial role in global economic and political affairs.