Luanda - Angola is interested in acquiring a state-of-the-art military machine building system, transport and logistics vehicles and aircraft from the United States of America.
The intention was expressed Thursday by Angola’s Minister of Defense, João Ernesto dos Santos 'Liberdade, during a meeting he held at the Pentagon in Washington, with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin.
Ernesto dos Santos said Angola intends to strengthen its relations with the US in the defense field, expanding cooperation in new areas to strengthen technical and operational capacity, through the acquisition of a state-of-the-art machine building system, the acquisition of transport and logistics vehicles to be supplied by Oshkosh Defense.
The minister also listed the acquisition of a bridge system to be supplied by Acrow Bridges, the acquisition of a fleet of light tactical vehicles to be supplied by General Motors Defense, as well as the acquisition of aircraft.
The minister underscored that Angola is focused on promoting an agenda of conflict prevention and resolution by peaceful means and inter-state dialogue.
‘We came to your country to follow up on all the activities that we have been carrying out over recent times,’ the Angolan minister said.
The minister added that the trip to the US will serve to visit some American companies so that they can work together and strengthen the relationship of cooperation.
According to the minister, Angola plans to promote African defense and security policies in order to achieve peace, stability, cohesion and the deepening of continental projects.
The minister said that the country is pursuing a strategy of cooperation in the bilateral and multilateral spheres, with a view to its competitive rise on the international stage, increasingly preserving its interests on the continent and in the world.
‘Angola's strategic vision prioritizes its integration in all possible areas of national, continental and international interests, especially within the framework of the African regional organizations in which it is part of and with which it has the geographical, historical and cultural affinities mentioned above,’ said João Ernesto dos Santos.
In this context, the minister said that the geostrategic and geopolitical space in which Angola is integrated requires special attention due to the deep historical, geographical, economic and cultural complexities of the communities.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin on his turn said that Angola is a strategic partner and a regional leader, and that the United States ‘deeply values’ the increasingly close ties between the two nations.
‘As President Biden said in 2022 at the US-Africa Leaders Summit here in Washington, the success of Africa is the success of the world,’ the US Secretary said.
And since that summit, the US official said, the two countries have continued to hold high-level dialogues and advance the objectives discussed by their leaders.
Lloyd J. Austin recalled that in September last year, he was proud to be the first US Secretary of Defense to visit Angola, and had good discussions with President João Lourenço and the team at the Ministry of Defense.
Lloyd Austin said he was proud of everything that has been done together to deepen partnership, from maritime security to peacekeeping to defense policy and more.
The US official said that the relationship between Angola and the US has ‘tremendous potential to grow even further,’ including areas such as cyber security, as well as Angola's potential participation in the US State Partnership Program.
According to the Defense Secretary, the US is eager to work with Angolan authorities to take advantage of this historic opportunity to promote peace, security and responsible rules-based governance.
Lloyd said the US Department of Defense looks forward to continued cooperation with Angola as it restructures and modernizes its armed forces and that he appreciated Angola's leadership in the region and beyond. ART/TED/AMP
