State Visit of President of Angola to India

During Angolan President João Lourenço’s state visit to India, India announced a USD 200 million line of credit for the modernisation of Angola’s defence forces, marking a significant step in strengthening strategic, energy, and development cooperation between the two nations.

Key-highlights of the Visit:

• India and Angola are celebrating 40 years of diplomatic relations, underscoring a consistent foreign policy.
• Defence Ties: India announced a USD 200 million Line of Credit to help modernise Angola’s armed forces. Angola operates Soviet-origin equipment, such as Sukhoi Su-30 jets, which India is well-equipped to repair, service, and overhaul through its public and private defence ecosystem.
  • This supports India’s goals under SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and boosts its image as a reliable defence partner for Africa.
• Railway connectivity: Angola has three major rail lines, but they are currently not interconnected. India has offered technical and infrastructure support in this area. Importantly, one of Angola’s key railway lines is part of the Lobito Corridor — a major S.- and EU-backed initiative announced alongside the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) at the G20 Summit in Delhi (2023).
  • The Lobito Corridor connects the mineral-rich Katanga province in the Democratic Republic of Congo to Angola’s port city of Lobito, via Zambia.
• Angola signed the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement and became the 123rd member of the ISA.

Why this visit matters?

• The visit holds significance because President Lourenço is currently the Chair of the African Union (AU), giving this bilateral dialogue a wider continental relevance.
• Energy Partnership: Angola is India’s second-largest supplier of oil and LNG in Africa, after Nigeria. Nearly 90% of Angola’s USD 3.5 billion exports to India are energy-related. With India being one of the world’s largest energy importers, this energy-security partnership is key to India’s long-term energy strategy.
• Three MoUs were signed in agriculture, traditional medicine, and culture, showcasing India’s soft power and development diplomacy.

India’s Africa Strategy:

• India has re-energised Africa ties—18 of 25 new Indian missions since 2015 are in Africa, signalling diplomatic priority.
• India sees Africa as a resource-rich, youthful, and increasingly influential continent—important for securing energy, gaining market access, and pursuing UNSC reforms.
• India championed African Union’s entry into the G20, positioning itself as a voice of the Global South.
• India’s development model offers an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by avoiding debt dependency and fostering real capacity building.
• Maritime and Security Engagement
  • Maritime security is central—India’s AIKEYME naval exercise, radar networks, and collaboration under SAGAR help secure Indian Ocean routes, vital for trade and energy.
  • Strategic partnerships with countries like Angola contribute to securing Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) from piracy and geopolitical disruptions.