Angola’s international relations have undergone a profound reconfiguration since the end of the civil war in 2002. Seeking greater autonomy after decades of dependence on the Soviet Union, Angola diversified its external partnerships—first turning to China to rebuild its infrastructure and later engaging more actively with the United States and the European Union, particularly around the Lobito Corridor but also in the fields of defence and security. This renewed relationship, shaped by the United States’ transactional diplomacy around critical raw materials, creates new opportunities for Angola while simultaneously imposing constraints.
Washington’s approach is inherently regional and immediately entangles Angola with the dynamics of the Democratic Republic of Congo, at times colliding with Luanda’s own regional posture as a member and current chair of the African Union, especially regarding the conflict in the DRC.