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The foreign relations of Angola are based on Angola's strong support of U.S. foreign policy as the Angolan economy is dependent on U.S. foreign aid. From 1975 to 1989, Angola was aligned with the Eastern bloc, in particular the Soviet Union, Libya, and Cuba. Since then, it has focused on improving relationships with Western countries, cultivating links with other Portuguese-speaking countries, and asserting its own national interests in Central Africa through military and diplomatic intervention. In 1993, it established formal diplomatic relations with the United States. It has entered the Southern African Development Community as a vehicle for improving ties with its largely Anglophone neighbors to the south. Zimbabwe and Namibia joined Angola in its military intervention in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where Angolan troops remain in support of the Joseph Kabila government. It also has intervened in the Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville) in support of Denis Sassou-Nguesso in the civil war.

Since 1998, Angola has successfully worked with the United Nations Security Council to impose and carry out sanctions on UNITA. More recently, it has extended those efforts to controls on conflict diamonds, the primary source of revenue for UNITA during the Civil War that ended in 2002. At the same time, Angola has promoted the revival of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) as a forum for cultural exchange and expanding ties with Portugal (its former ruler) and Brazil (which shares many cultural affinities with Angola) in particular. Angola is a member of the Port Management Association of Eastern and Southern Africa (PMAESA).

Diplomatic relations List of countries which Angola maintains diplomatic relations with: frameless|425x425px#CountryDate123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930—313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990—919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112—113114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139140—141142143144145146147148149150151152153154155156157158159160161162163164165166167168169170171172173

Bilateral relations

Africa Country Formal Relations BeganNotes30 October 1977See Angola–Cape Verde relations

Cape Verde signed a friendship accord with Angola in December 1975, shortly after Angola gained its independence. Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau served as stop-over points for Cuban troops on their way to Angola to fight UNITA rebels and South African troops. Prime Minister Pedro Pires sent FARP soldiers to Angola where they served as the personal bodyguards of Angolan President José Eduardo dos Santos. Angola has an embassy in Praia. Cape Verde has an embassy in Luanda and a consulate in Benguela.17 October 1978Many thousands of Angolans fled the country after the civil war. More than 20,000 people were forced to leave the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2009, an action the DR Congo said was in retaliation for regular expulsion of Congolese diamond miners who were in Angola illegally. Angola sent a delegation to DR Congo's capital Kinshasa and succeeded in stopping government-forced expulsions which had become a "tit-for-tat" immigration dispute. "Congo and Angola have agreed to suspend expulsions from both sides of the border," said Lambert Mende, DR Congo information minister, in October 2009. "We never challenged the expulsions themselves; we challenged the way they were being conducted – all the beating of people and looting their goods, even sometimes their clothes," Mende said. Angola has an embassy in Kinshasa. DR Congo has an embassy in Luanda.See Angola–Kenya relations Angola has an embassy in Nairobi. Kenya has an embassy in Luanda.5 July 1975See Angola–Mozambique relations Angola has an embassy in Maputo. Mozambique has an embassy in Luanda.18 September 1990See Angola–Namibia relations

Namibia borders Angola to the south. In 1999, Namibia signed a mutual defense pact with its northern neighbor Angola. This affected the Angolan Civil War that had been ongoing since Angola's independence in 1975. Namibia's ruling party SWAPO sought to support the ruling party MPLA in Angola against the rebel movement UNITA, whose stronghold is in southern Angola, bordering to Namibia. The defence pact allowed Angolan troops to use Namibian territory when attacking Jonas Savimbi's UNITA. Angola has an embassy in Windhoek and consulates-general in Oshakati and Rundu. Namibia has an embassy in Luanda and consulates-general in Menongue and Ondjiva.15 March 1976See Angola–Nigeria relations

Angolan-Nigerian relations are primarily based on their roles as oil exporting nations. Both are members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, the African Union and other multilateral organizations. Angola has an embassy in Abuja. Nigeria has an embassy in Luanda.17 May 1994See Angola–South Africa relations

Angola-South Africa relations are quite strong as the ruling parties in both nations, the African National Congress in South Africa and the MPLA in Angola, fought together during the Angolan Civil War and South African Border War. They fought against UNITA rebels, based in Angola, and the apartheid-era government in South Africa who supported them. Nelson Mandela mediated between the MPLA and UNITA factions during the last years of Angola's civil war. Angola has an embassy in Pretoria and consulates-general in Cape Town and Johannesburg. South Africa has an embassy in Luanda.15 October 1982See Angola–Zimbabwe relations

Americas Country Formal Relations BeganNotes2 June 1979Both countries established diplomatic relations on 2 June 1979 See Angola–Argentina relations Angola has an embassy in Buenos Aires. Argentina has an embassy in Luanda.12 November 1975See Angola–Brazil relations

Commercial and economic ties dominate the relations of each country. Parts of both countries were part of the Portuguese Empire from the early 16th century until Brazil's independence in 1822. As of November 2007, "trade between the two countries is booming as never before"ANGOLA-BRAZIL: Portuguese – the Common Language of Trade by Mario de Queiroz, ipsnews.net, 13 November 2007 Angola has an embassy in Brasília and consulates-general in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Brazil has an embassy in Luanda.1 February 1978Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 February 1978

Canada-Angola relations were established in 1978, and Canada is accredited to Angola from its embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe. Ties have grown since the end of the civil war in 2002, with increased engagement in areas of mutual interest. As Chair of the United Nations Security Council's Angola Sanctions Committee, Canada limited the ability of UNITA to continue its military campaign, sanctions helped to bring a ceasefire agreement to end Angola's conflict. Angola is accredited to Canada from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States. Canada is accredited to Angola from its embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe and maintains an honorary consulate in Luanda.15 November 1975See Angola–Cuba relations

During Angola's civil war Cuban forces fought to install a Marxist–Leninist MPLA-PT government, against Western-backed UNITA and FLNA guerrillas and the South-African army.Piero Gleijeses, Conflicting Missions: Havana, Washington and Africa, 1959–1976 Angola has an embassy in Havana. Cuba has an embassy in Luanda.20 February 1976Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 February 1976 See Angola–Mexico relations Angola is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States. Mexico is accredited to Angola from its embassy in Pretoria, South Africa and maintains an honorary consulate in Luanda.14 July 1994Both countries established diplomatic relations on 14 July 1994 See Angola–United States relations thumb|Embassy of Angola in Washington, D.C. From the mid-1980s through at least 1992, the United States was the primary source of military and other support for the UNITA rebel movement, which was led from its creation through 2002 by Jonas Savimbi. The U.S. refused to recognize Angola diplomatically during this period.

Relations between the United States of America and the Republic of Angola (formerly the People's Republic of Angola) have warmed since Angola's ideological renunciation of Communism before the 1992 elections. Angola has an embassy in Washington, D.C., and consulates-general in Houston and New York City. United States has an embassy in Luanda.6 March 1987Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 March 1987 See Angola–Uruguay relations

Angola has a consulate-general in Montevideo. Uruguay is accredited to Angola from its embassy in Pretoria, South Africa.

Asia Country Formal Relations BeganNotes12 January 1983Both countries established diplomatic relations on 12 January 1983 See Angola–China relations

Chinese prime minister Wen Jiabao visited Angola in June 2006, offering a US$9 billion loan for infrastructure improvements in return for petroleum. The PRC has invested heavily in Angola since the end of the civil war in 2002. João Manuel Bernardo, the current ambassador of Angola to China, visited the PRC in November 2007.

Angola has an embassy in Beijing and a consulate-general in Macau. China has an embassy in Luanda.2 June 1979Both countries established diplomatic relations on 2 June 1979 See Angola–India relations

Angola has an embassy in New Delhi. India has an embassy in Luanda.16 April 1992See Angola–Israel relations

Angola-Israel relations, primarily based on trade and pro-United States foreign policies, are excellent. In March 2006, the trade volume between the two countries amounted to $400 million. In 2005, President José Eduardo dos Santos visited Israel. Angola/Israel business volume amounted at USD 400 million Angola Press, 22 March 2006 Israeli Ambassador Highlights Relations With Angola Angola Press Angola has an embassy in Tel Aviv. Israel has an embassy in Luanda.September 1976See Angola–Japan relations

Diplomatic relations between Japan and Angola were established in September 1976. Japan has donated towards demining following the civil war. Angola has an embassy in Tokyo. Japan has an embassy in Luanda.20 October 1977Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 October 1977

The Government of Angola called for the support of Pakistan for the candidature of Angola to the seat of non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, whose election is set for September this year, during the 69th session of the General Assembly of United Nations. On the fringes of the ceremony, the Angolan diplomat also met with officials in charge of the economic and commercial policy of Pakistan, to assess the business opportunities between the two states. It asked to discuss aspects related to the cooperation on several domains of common interest.14 September 2001Both countries established diplomatic relations on 14 September 2001. Angola has an embassy in Manila. Philippines is accredited to Angola from its embassy in Lisbon, Portugal. 9 July 1980Both countries established diplomatic relations on 9 July 1980 See Angola–Turkey relations Angola has an embassy in Ankara. Turkey has an embassy in Luanda. Trade volume between the two countries was US$212 million in 2019.12 November 1975Both countries established diplomatic relations on 12 November 1975 See Angola–Vietnam relations

Angola-Vietnam relations were established on 12 November 1975 after Angola gained its independence, when future president of Angola Agostinho Neto visited Vietnam. Angola and Vietnam have steadfast partners as both transitioned from Cold War-era foreign policies of international communism to pro-Western pragmatism following the fall of the Soviet Union.

Angola has an embassy in Hanoi. Vietnam has an embassy in Luanda.

Europe Country Formal Relations BeganNotes17 February 1976See Angola–France relations

Relations between the two countries have not always been cordial due to the former French government's policy of supporting militant separatists in Angola's Cabinda province and the international Angolagate scandal embarrassed both governments by exposing corruption and illicit arms deals. Following French president Nicolas Sarkozy's visit in 2008, relations have improved. Angola has an embassy in Paris. France has an embassy in Luanda.16 August 1979Both countries established diplomatic relations on 16 August 1979 See Angola–Germany relations Angola has an embassy in Berlin. Germany has an embassy in Luanda.14 April 1975 Angola has an embassy to the Holy See based in Rome. Holy See has an Apostolic Nuncio to Angola.4 June 1976See Angola–Italy relations

Angola has an embassy in Rome. Italy has an embassy in Luanda.18 February 1976 Angola has an embassy in The Hague and a consulate-general in Rotterdam. Netherlands has an embassy in Luanda.9 March 1976See Angola–Portugal relations

Angola-Portugal relations have significantly improved since the Angolan government abandoned communism and nominally embraced democracy in 1991, embracing a pro-U.S. and to a lesser degree pro-Europe foreign policy. Portugal ruled Angola for 400 years, colonizing the territory from 1483 until independence in 1975. Angola's war for independence did not end in a military victory for either side, but was suspended as a result of a coup in Portugal that replaced the Caetano regime. Angola has an embassy in Lisbon and a consulate-general in Porto. Portugal has an embassy in Luanda and a consulate-general in Benguela.11 November 1975Both countries established diplomatic relations on 11 November 1975 See Angola–Russia relations

Angola has an embassy in Moscow. Russia has an embassy in Luanda.12 November 1975Both countries established diplomatic relations on 12 November 1975 See Angola–Serbia relations

The defence minister of Serbia, Dragan Šutanovac, stated in a 2011 meeting in Luanda that Serbia would negotiate with the Angolan military authorities for the construction of a new military hospital in Angola.

Angola supports Serbia's stance on Kosovo, and recognizes Serbia's territorial integrity.Angola: Head of State Sends Message to Serbian Counterpart, Angola Press Agency, 2008-06-24 Angola has an embassy in Belgrade. Serbia has an embassy in Luanda.19 October 1977Both countries established diplomatic relations on 19 October 1977 See Angola–Spain relations

Angola has an embassy in Madrid. Spain has an embassy in Luanda.14 October 1977Angola established diplomatic relations with the UK on 14 October 1977. Angola maintains an embassy in London. The United Kingdom is accredited to Angola through its embassy in Luanda.

Both countries share common membership of the Atlantic co-operation pact, and the World Trade Organization.

See also List of diplomatic missions in Angola List of diplomatic missions of Angola Visa requirements for Angolan citizens

References

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