President Joe Biden’s visit to Angola in December marks a significant moment in the evolving relationship between the U.S. and the African continent. This trip, which will be Biden’s first and final visit to Africa during his presidency, carries significant strategic weight, particularly as it comes amidst a global scramble for critical minerals and a bid to counter China’s expanding influence on the continent.
A Shifting Foreign Policy Landscape
Angola, with its complex history deeply entwined with the Cold War, has become a focal point for renewed U.S. engagement. During the Cold War, Angola was a battleground for proxy wars between the Soviet Union and the United States. The country’s civil war (1975-2002) saw the Soviet Union, Cuba, and China support the ruling MPLA (People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola), while the U.S. backed anti-communist rebel groups. Despite the geopolitical tensions, U.S. oil companies continued operations in Angola, exporting oil to Europe.
Since the end of the civil war, Angola has established a relatively stable government under the MPLA, and the U.S. formalized diplomatic relations in 1993. While the relationship between the two countries has grown over the years, Angola’s primary economic ties have shifted towards China and Russia. However, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has prompted Angola to take a more independent stance, abstaining from the United Nations vote and subsequently voting against Russia. This shift indicates a potential alignment with Western interests and a counterbalance to China and Russia’s influence in the region.
The Strategic Importance of the Lobito Corridor
At the heart of Biden’s visit lies the Lobito Corridor, a critical infrastructure project that connects Angola’s Lobito port to the mineral-rich regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia. This corridor, which includes the Benguela Railway, is envisioned as a vital conduit for exporting critical minerals, especially copper and cobalt, which are essential for the global transition to electric vehicles and renewable energy.
The U.S. sees this project as a crucial opportunity to secure access to these vital resources, particularly as the demand for them is expected to skyrocket in the coming years. The strategic importance of the Lobito Corridor is further underscored by the recent granting of a license to Canadian Ivanhoe Mines to explore for copper in Angola. This development highlights the growing Western interest in Angola’s vast mineral resources, including manganese, uranium, zinc, wolfram, and diamonds.
Boosting Economic Potential in the Region
The Lobito Corridor also holds immense potential for Zambia, a neighboring country rich in mineral deposits. Zambia boasts 94 active mining projects, including KoBold Metals’ largest copper discovery in the country’s history. With its vast copper resources, Zambia has ambitious plans to increase its medium-term production to one million tons per year. However, Zambia has historically faced infrastructure bottlenecks that have hindered its mining potential. The Lobito Corridor provides a solution, offering a faster and more efficient route for exporting copper to global markets.
This project is particularly appealing to U.S. allies like Saudi Arabia, which have recently invested in Zambian copper assets, including First Quantum’s Kansanshi and Sentinel copper mines. The presence of Barrick Gold’s Lumwana copper mine in Zambia further highlights the potential economic boost the Lobito Corridor could bring to the region.
Countering China’s Influence
For Angola, which is heavily indebted to China, the Lobito Corridor project offers a chance to diversify its economic partnerships. While China is Angola’s largest trading partner, primarily fueled by oil exports, U.S. investments in projects like the Lobito Corridor could shift the country’s economic focus towards the West, reducing its dependence on Chinese loans and infrastructure development.
Biden’s visit arrives at a crucial moment, offering a path to secure critical African commodities. By providing a faster and more efficient route to Europe and the U.S., bypassing the Indian Ocean, the Lobito Corridor effectively counteracts China’s Belt and Road initiative. This project also strengthens trade ties with Western markets, further reducing Angola’s reliance on Chinese economic dominance.
In conclusion, President Biden’s trip to Angola is a strategic move designed to secure critical mineral resources, bolster infrastructure development, and counter China’s growing influence in Africa. The Lobito Corridor project, central to Biden’s agenda, represents a significant opportunity to diversify economic partnerships and secure access to vital minerals for the global transition to a green energy future. This visit carries immense significance for the future of U.S.-Africa relations and the geopolitical dynamics shaping the continent.