At a time when the phrase ‘Global South’ is recurring in the course of international relations, New Delhi witnessed a unique moment of deep diplomatic engagement between India and Angola. A very significant bilateral meeting was held between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço at Hyderabad House on Saturday.
Not only an exchange of greetings, but every moment of the day was written with the determination to take the relations between the two countries to a new height. Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri were present at the meeting along with Modi. The discussion touched upon trade, energy, agriculture, technology and defence cooperation—all of which form the future outline of the bilateral relations between India and Angola.
President Lourenço was accorded a state guard of honour and a 21-gun salute. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Modi received him at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Commenting on the visit, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “It was a special welcome to an important partner from the global South.”
Another highlight of the visit was President Lourenço’s visit to Rajghat and his tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. By laying a wreath and signing the visitors’ book, he highlighted the moral foundation and historical bond of Africa-India relations.
India’s relations with Angola are not new, but this visit has given a new meaning to that old relationship. Angola, one of the oil-rich countries in Africa, is an important pillar of India’s energy security. Currently, trade between the two countries has crossed $4 billion and there are assurances that it will increase further in the future.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar wrote in X, “Honored to meet the President of Angola. Under his leadership, the path of India-Angola and India-Africa relations will be further strengthened.”
The visit further strengthened India’s position on the international stage and its claim to leadership in South-South cooperation. More than just a diplomatic courtesy, the visit was a look to the future—where India and Africa, especially Angola, would move forward hand in hand on the path of development and peace.
