India and Angola Forge Strategic Partnership, Ushering in a New Era of Bilateral Cooperation

(3 Minutes Read)

In a historic milestone marking 40 years of diplomatic engagement, India and Angola have announced an ambitious expansion of their bilateral partnership, emphasizing collaboration in energy, defence, digital infrastructure, and other strategic sectors. The announcement came during the landmark state visit of Angolan President João Lourenço to New Delhi — the first high-level visit from Angola in nearly four decades.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the visit as “historic,” reaffirming India’s longstanding solidarity with Angola, dating back to its independence movement, and emphasized strengthening ties rooted in mutual trust. A major highlight was India’s $200 million Line of Credit to support the modernization of Angola’s defence sector, covering system procurement, training, and maintenance.

India also pledged support in building Angola’s digital public infrastructure and space capabilities, as both nations seek to deepen cooperation in technology and capacity building. Angola’s formal entry into the International Solar Alliance (ISA) as its 123rd member marked a shared commitment to sustainable energy and climate collaboration.

With bilateral trade at USD 4.2 billion — dominated by oil and gas — Angola is India’s second-largest African energy partner. Angola has sought Indian expertise in oil refining and processing, reinforcing the economic pillar of this relationship.

On the security front, both countries boosted maritime ties through the India-Africa naval exercise “AIKEYME,” underscoring India’s growing maritime role in the Indian Ocean Region. Modi also welcomed Angola’s upcoming chairmanship of the African Union and reiterated India’s support for the AU’s G20 membership, highlighting the Global South’s collective aspirations.

Read Also:

http://trendsnafrica.com/angolan-president-joao-manuel-goncalves-lourenco-in-india-on-a-visit/

India’s broader African engagement now includes 17 new embassies, USD 12 billion in credit lines, and extensive vocational and digital infrastructure collaborations across the continent. The visit concluded with a united stance against terrorism, further cementing a multidimensional partnership poised for long-term impact.