The first visit by a White House occupant to the continent since 2015 was made by outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden to Africa. The American leader first visited the small island nation of Cabo Verde, where he commended the ongoing security cooperation between the U.S. and the country.
Biden traveled to Luanda, the capital of Angola, which was initially known as the People’s Republic of Angola after gaining independence, later that day. Biden had expressed his intention to visit Africa during the 2022 summit with African leaders. Nevertheless, his initial intentions to visit Angola in October 2023 and 2024 were postponed. At first, this was due to the Middle East tensions, and subsequently, it was due to Hurricane Milton in the United States. It is important to note that this did not prevent him from visiting Germany. Biden’s visit to Africa is of symbolic significance, despite the current escalation of the Middle East situation.
The 82-year-old Biden was frequently ridiculed in the media and not without reason. The president provided material for discussion by inadvertently referring to Angola as a city, dozing off during a summit, and nearly stumbling on a red carpet. This was likely his final overseas trip as president, and critics contended that his visit was not newsworthy, given his impending departure from office.
In the interim, the pomp and circumstance that surrounded Biden’s visit to Angola underscored the nation’s respect for the United States, not only for the president but for the entire nation. 12 military aircraft and helicopters escorted Air Force One, as Angola went all out. For the U.S. delegation, an entire hotel was allocated, subject to a thorough inspection by security services. Luanda proclaimed a public holiday and advised residents to remain at home. Additionally, the city imposed unprecedented measures, such as the suspension of funerals, the prohibition of street vending, and the closure of roads, during Biden’s visit.
Biden convened a Trans-African summit at Lobito Port in the coastal province of Benguela, where he was joined by the vice president of Tanzania, leaders from Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Biden announced a total of more than $1 billion in humanitarian aid for Africans who have been displaced during the summit.
Nevertheless, the U.S.-EU megaproject to reconstruct a 1,300-kilometer railway that connects resource-rich Zambia and the DRC to Lobito Port in Angola for maritime export was the primary focus. This project, which was launched in 2023 with investments surpassing $3 billion, emphasizes the importance of critical materials such as copper and cobalt, which are indispensable for the production of electronics and batteries. In the initial phase of the project, the United States allocated $600 million for solar energy and telecommunications. The goal is to expand the Lobito corridor to connect with Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam port. The anticipated completion date is 2030.
This initiative is intended to counteract and potentially displace China’s influence in Angola and neighboring countries from a geopolitical perspective. China has made substantial investments in Central Africa since the 1970s, such as the 1,860-kilometer TAZARA railway that connects Tanzania and Zambia. Currently, China is a beneficiary of the oil, copper, and cobalt of Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. However, it has announced intentions to expand its railway network. Luanda is indebted to China for nearly $25 billion, and Chinese companies have invested $12 billion in Angola’s infrastructure over the past decade. Nevertheless, Angola’s authorities underscore their readiness to collaborate with all parties that contribute to economic expansion.
The corridor’s critical role in unleashing regional and global economic opportunities was underscored by Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, who also indicated that the project will continue under the administration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who is anticipated to provide support.
It seems that Angola is reorienting itself toward Washington. President João Lourenço delegated representation to lower-level officials and notably avoided recent China-Africa and Russia-Africa summits. Luanda has already been designated as the location for the 2025 U.S.-Africa summit.
Russia is another important player in this region. On December 4, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the establishment of a new fund to promote cooperation between Russia and Africa. However, obstacles were encountered. VTB Bank’s Angola branch was closed as a result of sanctions, and Angola authorized the transfer of Russia’s Alrosa stake in the Catoca diamond company, citing concerns regarding secondary Western sanctions.
The trade between Russia and Angola has experienced a significant decline, with a 60.5% decrease in 2022, as evidenced by an almost complete cessation of Angolan imports to Russia over the course of eight months. Russian diplomatic endeavors persist, despite these setbacks, and include the recognition of longstanding diplomatic ties and environmental education initiatives, which are set to commemorate their 50th anniversary in November 2025.