By Trevor Hunnicutt
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden mentioned on Thursday he’ll go to Angola in a visit that might mark renewed engagement with Africa at a time of worldwide turmoil.
“I’ve been there and I might be again,” Biden mentioned when requested about visiting the nation throughout an Oval Workplace assembly together with his Angolan counterpart, Joao Lourenco.
Biden didn’t specify when the assembly would happen. The White Home didn’t reply to a request for extra particulars.
The U.S. president, in search of re-election subsequent yr and dealing with a spread of international coverage challenges from Ukraine to Israel, has drawn consideration for the shortage of a visit to African continent regardless of what he says is its significance on international points.
The 2 leaders have been set to debate cooperation and funding between the international locations on photo voltaic power, infrastructure improvement and house, areas the place the Biden administration sees itself locked in competitors with China and the place it has additionally been making an attempt to counter Russia.
As a part of the go to, Angola was set to comply with the Artemis Accords, a pact designed to form the foundations for house exploration. Angola has a satellite tv for pc program that has benefited from Russian help.
America has been supporting a challenge that hyperlinks resource-rich Democratic Republic of Congo to the port of Lobito in Angola by rail to bypass highway congestion and keep away from delays on the copper and cobalt route.
“Africa: 1 billion folks. Critically essential,” Biden mentioned forward of the Oval Workplace assembly. “No nation extra essential than Angola.”
Final December, Biden mentioned, “I am keen to go to your continent,” at a Washington summit of African leaders. “I am trying ahead to seeing a lot of you in your house international locations.”
Biden briefly attended a local weather convention in Egypt final yr, however the convention was held on the Asian Sinai Peninsula. Vice President Kamala Harris took a week-long journey to Africa earlier this yr.
(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Further reporting by Joey Roulette; Enhancing by Alistair Bell)
