Media Note
Luanda, Angola
March 19, 2019
Joint Statement Following the U.S.-Angola Strategic Dialogue
The text of the following statement was released by the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Angola following the meeting of the U.S.-Angola Strategic Dialogue on March 18, 2019.
Begin Text:
Within the framework of deepening the strategic partnership and bilateral cooperation between the Republic of Angola and the United States of America, The Honorable John J. Sullivan, the Deputy Secretary of State of the United States of America, made an official visit to Angola from March 16 to 18, 2019, at the invitation of His Excellency Manuel Domingos Augusto, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Angola.
During his visit, on March 18, 2019, Deputy Secretary Sullivan was formally received by His Excellency João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola. During their meeting they discussed issues related to bilateral cooperation between the two countries, in particular, and regional and international issues, in general.
The visit was also used to conduct the 4th Session of the Strategic Dialogue between the Republic of Angola and the United States of America, which was co-chaired by His Excellency Manuel Domingos Augusto, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Angola, and The Honorable John J. Sullivan, Deputy Secretary of State of the United States of America.
The governments recognize and attach particular importance to political consultations, as well as sectoral dialogues, with a view to strengthening existing strategic and cooperative relations.
During the political and strategic consultations, the two delegations reviewed the progress achieved since the previous strategic dialogue in November 2015, and since Deputy Secretary Sullivan and Foreign Minister Augusto met on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York City in September 2018.
During the meetings on March 18, the two countries discussed the most relevant areas of collaboration and reaffirmed their commitment to promote and deepen bilateral cooperation in the following areas:
Economic Cooperation
The United States reaffirmed its commitment to work closely with the Republic of Angola on combatting money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Government of the Republic of Angola, through the Ministry of Finance, have agreed to launch a technical assistance engagement program to strengthen Angola’s work in the designated areas.
These technical assistance efforts will complement other steps being taken by the Government of the Republic of Angola.
The United States and Angola discussed the U.S. model of economic partnership and affirmed their desire to increase trade and investment between the two countries.
Deputy Secretary Sullivan and Foreign Minister Augusto discussed measures they can take to advance this goal, including through Angola’s commitment to continue to combat corruption where it exists.
Security and Military Cooperation
The United States and the Republic of Angola welcomed ongoing discussions on a Memorandum of Understanding to promote enhanced bilateral cooperation in the field of law enforcement. This would allow for greater cooperation between the two countries, and create conditions that could raise investor confidence in Angola as well.
The United States and Angola also discussed continued cooperation between the two countries’ militaries.
Deputy Secretary Sullivan announced two million dollars in continued humanitarian demining assistance to help Angola achieve landmine impact free status by 2025, supporting the Angolan government’s commitment to demining in the Okavango region.
Global and Regional Issues
The Republic of Angola and the United States welcomed the work underway to protect the Okavango River basin and the Defending Economic Livelihoods and Threatened Animals – or DELTA Act, which was signed into law in the United States in 2018. The United States reaffirmed its commitment to working with Angola in this important area.
Minister Augusto and Deputy Secretary Sullivan also discussed their countries’ mutual support for the recent historic transition of power in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Both governments encouraged efforts toward political, economic, and human rights reforms in the Republic of Zimbabwe, and also exchanged views on Venezuela.
Further Dialogue
Finally, Minister Augusto and Deputy Secretary Sullivan welcomed the renewed engagement between the two governments demonstrated by today’s meeting. They welcomed the bilateral Human Rights dialogue to be held on March 19 in Luanda, and agreed on the importance of holding other bilateral dialogues, especially on energy, trade, and possibly health in the near future.
At the end of the political consultations, Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan thanked His Excellency Manuel Domingos Augusto, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Angola, for a productive visit and the fraternal hospitality he and his delegation received during their stay in Angola.
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