Angola and the United States have agreed to deepen cooperation in defense and security, with both sides emphasizing military modernization, professional training and closer strategic coordination.
Addressing a meeting of the Angola–US Joint Defense Cooperation Committee (DEFCOM) in Luanda on August 5, Angola’s Secretary of State for Military Industry, Afonso Neto, said that “the good level of relations between the two countries in the field of defense is the result of frank dialogue, pragmatic cooperation, and the convergence of strategic interests in matters of international security”.
He emphasized that Angola is interested in deepening cooperation in areas such as peacekeeping operations, participation in joint exercises, academic exchanges between military institutions, and the development of innovative solutions to common security challenges.
Neto also reaffirmed the Angolan government’s commitment to improving the technological capabilities, logistics and operational readiness of the Angolan Armed Forces.
Angola has been pursuing a long-term effort to modernize its military equipment and reduce dependence on older systems. President João Lourenço announced plans in December 2022 to re-equip and modernize the armed forces, identifying the United States as a preferred partner and describing US technology as an alternative to Angola’s traditional reliance on Soviet-era systems.
The modernization agenda could involve improvements to communications, transport, maritime surveillance, military engineering, cybersecurity and logistics. Previous US–Angolan discussions have also covered access to military schools, joint exercises and maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea and the South Atlantic.
The latest meeting builds on a defense relationship that has become more structured in recent years. The first meeting of the Joint Angolan-American Defense Cooperation Committee took place at the Pentagon in Washington in June 2024. The two sides agreed to continue consultations and hold subsequent meetings in Luanda.
In 2024, Angola and the United States also signed an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement, allowing closer logistical cooperation between their armed forces. Such arrangements can facilitate the provision of supplies, services, maintenance and other forms of military support during approved activities.
During the African Maritime Forces Summit in late July, the commander of US Naval Forces Europe and Africa and Angola’s navy commander discussed maritime domain awareness, naval modernization and operational cooperation.
For Washington, Angola is strategically important because of its position on the South Atlantic and its coastline along the Gulf of Guinea region. Cooperation with Angola could support efforts to improve maritime security, combat illegal fishing and trafficking, protect offshore energy infrastructure and strengthen African-led peacekeeping capabilities.
