# Foreign relations of Angola

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:
Date :
| 1 | Czech Republic | 11 November 1975 |
| 2 | Guinea | 11 November 1975 |
| 3 | Brazil | 12 November 1975 |
| 4 | Serbia | 12 November 1975 |
| 5 | Vietnam | 12 November 1975 |
| 6 | Cuba | 15 November 1975 |
| 7 | North Korea | 16 November 1975 |
| 8 | Bulgaria | 20 November 1975 |
| 9 | Poland | 21 November 1975 |
| 10 | Cambodia | 4 December 1975 |
| 11 | Romania | 19 December 1975 |
| 12 | Mongolia | 10 February 1976 |
| 13 | France | 17 February 1976 |
| 14 | Botswana | 18 February 1976 |
| 15 | Egypt | 18 February 1976 |
| 16 | Netherlands | 18 February 1976 |
| 17 | Mexico | 20 February 1976 |
| 18 | Portugal | 9 March 1976 |
| 19 | Nigeria | 15 March 1976 |
| 20 | Libya | 30 March 1976 |
| 21 | Italy | 4 June 1976 |
| 22 | Republic of the Congo | 25 July 1976 |
| 23 | Japan | 9 September 1976 |
| 24 | Denmark | 17 September 1976 |
| 25 | Finland | 18 September 1976 |
| 26 | Switzerland | 30 September 1976 |
| 27 | Ghana | 8 October 1976 |
| 28 | Russia | 8 October 1976 |
| 29 | Benin | 11 October 1976 |
| — | Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic | 1976 |
| 30 | Hungary | 8 April 1977 |
| 31 | Ethiopia | 13 July 1977 |
| 32 | Guyana | 24 July 1977 |
| 33 | Bangladesh | August 1977 |
| 34 | United Kingdom | 14 October 1977 |
| 35 | Algeria | 19 October 1977 |
| 36 | Spain | 19 October 1977 |
| 37 | Pakistan | 20 October 1977 |
| 38 | Austria | 25 October 1977 |
| 39 | Cape Verde | 30 October 1977 |
| 40 | Norway | 31 October 1977 |
| 41 | Yemen | 2 November 1977 |
| 42 | Belgium | 16 December 1977 |
| 43 | Canada | 1 February 1978 |
| 44 | São Tomé and Príncipe | 19 February 1978 |
| 45 | Sweden | 22 March 1978 |
| 46 | Mozambique | 5 September 1978 |
| 47 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 17 October 1978 |
| 48 | Central African Republic | 22 January 1979 |
| 49 | Argentina | 2 June 1979 |
| 50 | India | 2 June 1979 |
| 51 | Germany | 16 August 1979 |
| 52 | Cameroon | 21 August 1979 |
| 53 | Zambia | 19 October 1979 |
| 54 | Turkey | 9 July 1980 |
| 55 | Laos | 11 July 1980 |
| 56 | Niger | 28 August 1980 |
| 57 | Greece | 30 August 1980 |
| 58 | Tanzania | 25 August 1981 |
| 59 | Senegal | 16 February 1982 |
| 60 | Gabon | 24 May 1982 |
| 61 | Zimbabwe | 15 October 1982 |
| 62 | Equatorial Guinea | 1982 |
| 63 | China | 12 January 1983 |
| 64 | Grenada | 13 March 1983 |
| 65 | Ivory Coast | 3 June 1983 |
| 66 | Lesotho | 1983 |
| 67 | Tunisia | 1983 |
| 68 | Morocco | 24 June 1985 |
| 69 | Kenya | 22 July 1985 |
| 70 | Suriname | 6 September 1985 |
| 71 | Iran | 8 January 1986 |
| 72 | Vanuatu | 16 July 1986 |
| 73 | Seychelles | 7 November 1986 |
| 74 | Venezuela | 9 December 1986 |
| 75 | Uruguay | 6 March 1987 |
| 76 | Mauritania | 2 December 1987 |
| 77 | Australia | 30 March 1988 |
| 78 | Colombia | 29 April 1988 |
| 79 | Albania | 17 August 1988 |
| 80 | Peru | 27 August 1988 |
| 81 | Togo | 27 September 1988 |
| 82 | Nicaragua | 20 October 1988 |
| 823 | Iceland | 2 November 1988 |
| 84 | Rwanda | December 1988 |
| 85 | Burundi | December 1988 |
| 86 | Panama | 16 February 1989 |
| 87 | Eswatini | 8 November 1989 |
| 88 | Chile | 8 August 1990 |
| 89 | Namibia | 18 September 1990 |
| 90 | South Korea | 6 January 1992 |
| — | State of Palestine | 28 February 1992 |
| 91 | Israel | 16 April 1992 |
| 92 | Thailand | 24 August 1992 |
| 93 | United States | 19 May 1993 |
| 94 | Slovakia | 30 September 1993 |
| 95 | Malawi | 9 November 1993 |
| 96 | North Macedonia | 10 November 1993 |
| 97 | South Africa | 27 May 1994 |
| 98 | Moldova | 30 September 1994 |
| 99 | Ukraine | 30 September 1994 |
| 100 | Armenia | 3 October 1994 |
| 101 | Kazakhstan | 3 October 1994 |
| 102 | Croatia | 16 November 1994 |
| 103 | Azerbaijan | 1 December 1994 |
| 104 | Belarus | 24 April 1995 |
| 105 | Malaysia | 1995 |
| 106 | Qatar | 1995 |
| 107 | Lebanon | 3 July 1996 |
| 108 | Bolivia | 29 January 1997 |
| 109 | Estonia | 10 March 1997 |
| 110 | Georgia | 10 March 1997 |
| 111 | Ecuador | 17 June 1997 |
| 112 | Turkmenistan | 18 June 1997 |
| — | Holy See | 8 July 1997 |
| 113 | Kuwait | 20 November 1997 |
| 114 | United Arab Emirates | 11 December 1997 |
| 115 | Syria | 10 February 1999 |
| 116 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 24 September 1999 |
| 117 | Cyprus | 1 June 2000 |
| 118 | Singapore | 14 September 2000 |
| 119 | Belize | 24 January 2001 |
| 120 | Ireland | 24 January 2001 |
| 121 | Costa Rica | 13 March 2001 |
| 122 | Indonesia | 7 August 2001 |
| 123 | Philippines | 14 September 2001 |
| 124 | Luxembourg | 14 May 2002 |
| 125 | Timor-Leste | 20 May 2002 |
| 126 | Uzbekistan | 29 May 2002 |
| 127 | Lithuania | 4 June 2002 |
| 128 | Jamaica | 8 October 2002 |
| 129 | Mali | 28 October 2002 |
| 130 | Uganda | 2002 |
| 131 | Burkina Faso | 17 January 2003 |
| 132 | Mauritius | 3 March 2003 |
| 133 | Sudan | 22 October 2003 |
| 134 | Slovenia | 20 January 2004 |
| 135 | Sri Lanka | 23 February 2004 |
| 136 | Jordan | 15 July 2004 |
| 137 | Sierra Leone | 1 November 2004 |
| 138 | Comoros | 22 December 2004 |
| 139 | Chad | 23 June 2005 |
| 140 | Oman | 13 December 2005 |
| — | Sovereign Military Order of Malta | 13 December 2005 |
| 141 | Brunei | 18 October 2006 |
| 142 | Guinea-Bissau | 8 January 2007 |
| 143 | Paraguay | 21 June 2007 |
| 144 | Andorra | 20 March 2009 |
| 145 | Saudi Arabia | 24 March 2009 |
| 146 | San Marino | 30 March 2009 |
| 147 | Dominican Republic | 25 September 2009 |
| 148 | Liberia | 3 December 2009 |
| 149 | Montenegro | 18 December 2009 |
| 150 | Malta | 15 June 2010 |
| 151 | Fiji | 18 May 2011 |
| 152 | Latvia | 7 July 2011 |
| 153 | Eritrea | 11 March 2012 |
| 154 | Myanmar | 19 September 2013 |
| 155 | Bahrain | 26 September 2013 |
| 156 | New Zealand | 4 October 2013 |
| 157 | Iraq | 21 February 2014 |
| 158 | Monaco | 31 July 2014 |
| 159 | South Sudan | 10 June 2016 |
| 160 | Nepal | 9 December 2017 |
| 161 | Tajikistan | 5 October 2020 |
| 162 | Maldives | 10 November 2020 |
| 163 | Liechtenstein | 23 June 2021 |
| 164 | Somalia | 31 August 2021 |
| 165 | Gambia | 3 September 2021 |
| 166 | Djibouti | 24 January 2022 |
| 167 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 30 March 2022 |
| 168 | Barbados | 17 August 2022 |
| 169 | Trinidad and Tobago | 7 December 2022 |
| 170 | El Salvador | 18 September 2023 |
| 171 | Guatemala | 22 September 2023 |
| 172 | Madagascar | 8 July 2024 |
| 173 | Kyrgyzstan | 26 September 2024 |

## Bilateral relations
### Africa

| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
| Cape Verde | 30 October 1977 | See 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. |
| Democratic Republic of Congo | 17 October 1978 | Many 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. |
| Kenya | | See Angola–Kenya relations Angola has an embassy in Nairobi. Kenya has an embassy in Luanda. |
| Mozambique | 5 July 1975 | See Angola–Mozambique relations Angola has an embassy in Maputo. Mozambique has an embassy in Luanda. |
| Namibia | 18 September 1990 | See 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. |
| Nigeria | 15 March 1976 | See 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. |
| South Africa | 17 May 1994 | See 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. |
| Zimbabwe | 15 October 1982 | See Angola–Zimbabwe relations |

### Americas

| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
| Argentina | 2 June 1979 | Both 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. |
| Brazil | 12 November 1975 | See 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 has an embassy in Brasília and consulates-general in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Brazil has an embassy in Luanda. |
| Canada | 1 February 1978 | Both 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. |
| Cuba | 15 November 1975 | See 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. Angola has an embassy in Havana. Cuba has an embassy in Luanda. |
| Mexico | 20 February 1976 | Both 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. |
| United States | 14 July 1994 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 14 July 1994 See Angola–United States relations 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. |
| Uruguay | 6 March 1987 | Both 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 Began | Notes |
| China | 12 January 1983 | Both 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. |
| India | 2 June 1979 | Both 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. |
| Israel | 16 April 1992 | See 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. |
| Japan | September 1976 | See 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. |
| Pakistan | 20 October 1977 | Both 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. |
| Philippines | 14 September 2001 | Both 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. |
| Turkey | 9 July 1980 | Both 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. |
| Vietnam | 12 November 1975 | Both 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 Began | Notes |
| France | 17 February 1976 | See 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. |
| Germany | 16 August 1979 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 16 August 1979 See Angola–Germany relations Angola has an embassy in Berlin. Germany has an embassy in Luanda. |
| Holy See | 14 April 1975 | Angola has an embassy to the Holy See based in Rome. Holy See has an Apostolic Nuncio to Angola. |
| Italy | 4 June 1976 | See Angola–Italy relations Angola has an embassy in Rome. Italy has an embassy in Luanda. |
| Netherlands | 18 February 1976 | Angola has an embassy in The Hague and a consulate-general in Rotterdam. Netherlands has an embassy in Luanda. |
| Portugal | 9 March 1976 | See 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. |
| Russia | 11 November 1975 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 11 November 1975 See Angola–Russia relations Angola has an embassy in Moscow. Russia has an embassy in Luanda. |
| Serbia | 12 November 1975 | Both 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 has an embassy in Belgrade. Serbia has an embassy in Luanda. |
| Spain | 19 October 1977 | Both countries established diplomatic relations on 19 October 1977 See Angola–Spain relations Angola has an embassy in Madrid. Spain has an embassy in Luanda. |
| United Kingdom | 14 October 1977 | Angola 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. |