On December 17, 2014, the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Angola, Georges Chikoti, made an official visit to the United States. During the visit, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Foreign Minister Chikoti co-chaired a session of the U.S.-Angola Strategic Partnership Dialogue.
During the meeting the two delegations recognized the significant achievements in the bilateral relationship since the initiation of the Strategic Partnership Dialogue in 2010. They reaffirmed their commitment to deepen the strategic partnership, particularly relating to support for the implementation of Angola’s National Development Plan, which includes trade and commerce, energy, health, and education. The delegations also discussed the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) agenda for 2015, maritime security, counterterrorism, and peacekeeping operations. Angola and the United States pledged to work together in the Security Council and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) to further peace, security, and stability. The wide-ranging discussions on bilateral, regional, and global issues in the Strategic Partnership Dialogue included the following:
Regional and Global Issues
The Republic of Angola and the United States are committed to sharing their experience on how to address the most pressing global and regional problems. The United States and Angola pledged to work together as members of the UN Security Council over the next two years to address critical global and regional issues. The United States reaffirmed its support for the proactive and positive role Angola is playing as the leader of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR). Angola and the United States recognized the important role played by the ICGLR in bringing African nations together and leading them towards an enduring peace. Both the United States and Angola expressed their commitment to the international norm against the use of chemical weapons. The United States is pleased that Angola’s Council of Ministers has taken steps to join the Chemical Weapons Convention and encouraged the rapid completion of the accession process.
Trade, Investment, and Energy
Both delegations placed high importance on the intensification of bilateral trade and investment cooperation while respecting international commitments and standards. In particular, the United States and Angola indicated their intent to work together to support the diversification of Angola’s non-oil sector. Both countries signaled that the recent opening of U.S. Foreign Commercial Service and U.S. Foreign Agriculture Service offices in Luanda will encourage increased bilateral trade and the entry of more U.S. companies to Angola’s growing economy. Both delegations acknowledged the importance of U.S. oil and gas companies that are committed to implementing corporate social responsibility programs and the goal ofAngolanization to hire and equip the country’s next generation of Angolan workers. Both delegations agreed to continue technical engagement in the power sector which supports Angola’s National Development Plan and helps improve Angola’s investment climate through power for industry. Angola and the United States are committed to scheduling the next round of Trade and Investment Framework Agreement talks and the U.S.-Angola Energy Dialogue in 2015.
Security and Military Cooperation
Angola and the United States acknowledged the global and regional necessity of keeping the Gulf of Guinea secure from piracy and other threats. Both delegations expressed their willingness to build upon the momentum generated from the September visit of the AFRICOM Commander and the U.S.-Africa Partnership Flight hosted in Luanda in March. The United States and Angola agreed to expand security cooperation, including counterterrorism cooperation and the preparation of a joint International Maritime and Energy Security Conference hosted by Angola in 2015. The United States expressed its appreciation and offered technical and material support for Angola’s commitment to participate in the United Nations peacekeeping operations in the Central African Republic.
Democracy, Human Rights, and Development
Angola and the United States reaffirmed their support for democratic development and respect for human rights, which include efforts to strengthen representative institutions such as independent media and local government. Both delegations acknowledged the importance of a vibrant and varied civil society. The United States welcomed the creation of the Inter-Ministerial Commissions on Human Rights and on Trafficking in Persons established by the Government of Angola in 2014 and encouraged enactment of recommendations made by these commissions. The United States reaffirmed its support for Angola’s chairmanship of the Kimberley Process. Angola and the United States pledged to work together to enforce the core principles of the Kimberley Process to ensure that diamond revenues do not contribute to violence, but instead to peace and prosperity. Angola and the United States reaffirmed their shared commitment to the elimination of conflict diamonds as a source of funding for war and instability around the world.
