Placido Hilukilwa
AIR Force One, the official airplane of the President of the United States, is expected to touch down at the “4 de Fevereiro” International Airport in Luanda, Angola, at about 17:00 local time. This marks Joe Biden’s first visit to Africa as U.S. president and the first-ever visit of a U.S. president to Angola.
The Angolan authorities regard Biden’s three-day state visit not only as an honor but also as “a reflection of Angola’s growing importance in the international arena.”
A statement from the Angolan presidency said that Biden’s visit recognizes Angola as a regional leader and reaffirms the transformation of relations between the two countries.
Diplomatic relations between Angola and the United States were established in the early 1990s after a bloody civil war, during which the U.S. supported the UNITA rebels.
According to Angolan media, Angola and the U.S. are collaborating to address several challenges, including improving infrastructure in Angola and creating economic opportunities for sustainable development across Africa.
The statement highlighted the priorities of the strategic relationship between Angola and the U.S., which include expanding technological and scientific cooperation, reinforcing peace and security, and enhancing food security.
Biden’s visit to Angola was initially scheduled for October 13-15 but was postponed due to Hurricane Milton, which devastated parts of the U.S.
