President Joe Biden will visit Angola from October 13 to 15, marking the first visit by a U.S. President to a Portuguese-speaking African nation. This historic trip will follow a stop in Germany from October 10 to 13.
The White House announced on September 24 that Biden’s visit to Angola is aimed at strengthening economic partnerships and celebrating the launch of Africa’s first open-access transcontinental rail network. According to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, “From October 13 to 15, President Biden will be in Luanda, where he will meet with Angolan President João Lourenço to discuss deepening collaboration on shared priorities, including enhancing our economic partnerships that keep our companies competitive and protect workers.”
During the visit, Biden will also formalize the G7’s “Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI)” project, which will create a transcontinental open-access railway network in Africa. This railway will start in the Angolan city of Lobito and eventually connect the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean, passing through the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.
In addition to economic cooperation, discussions will address strengthening democracy, civic engagement, climate security, the transition to clean energy, and regional peace and security.
Jean-Pierre emphasized that “President Biden’s visit to Luanda, the first by a U.S. head of state to this Portuguese-speaking African country, highlights the evolving relationship between the U.S. and Angola, underscores the United States’ ongoing commitment to African partners, and demonstrates how collaboration to tackle shared challenges benefits both Americans and the entire African continent.”