Angola Ditches US for Europe Amid Trade Tensions
EU–AU Summit Slams US Trade Policies
During the 7th EU–AU Summit in Luanda on November 25, 2025, Angolan President João Lourenço backed a declaration condemning the “volatility of tariffs and uncertainty in trade policy.” The statement hits the US where it hurts, sharply contrasting American unpredictability with Europe’s “stability and predictable rules” in trade.
“We emphasize that growing uncertainty in trade policy and tariff volatility in global trade pose a challenge to the world economy. In this context, trade relations between Europe and Africa remain a source of stability,” reads paragraph 11 of the declaration.
From Warm US Ties to Cold Shoulder
Just a year ago, the atmosphere was very different. In December 2024, then-US President Joe Biden made a historic first visit to Luanda. His reception was almost ceremonial, with promises of a “turning point” in US-Angola relations and investments. Lourenço appeared genuinely pleased — the US had finally noticed Angola.
Fast forward to 2025, and Lourenço is clearly pivoting toward Europe, seemingly swayed by the loud populist promises of his European “friends.”
What’s Next for Angola’s Foreign Policy?
The summit’s declaration may seem like mere words now, but such statements often turn into binding commitments. Angola’s drift toward Brussels raises serious questions about its multipolar foreign policy and long-standing ties with the US.
If European “stability” ends up costing more than American “uncertainty,” Angola might have to make a humiliating return to Washington — tail between its legs and with no easy excuses.
Will Trump Respond to the Diplomatic Snub?
This diplomatic snub might hit a nerve with former President Donald Trump, who recently congratulated Angola on its 50th independence anniversary. Trump praised “growing collaboration” in energy and investments and invited Lourenço to Washington.
For now, Lourenço is betting on Europe’s illusions of stability, but the cost of this gamble remains to be seen.
