India to provide $200 mn loan to Angola to modernise its Armed Forces

India has agreed to provide Angola with a  $200 million line of credit (loan) to modernise its armed forces. This was announced during Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço’s visit to India on 3rd April 2025. 

President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço was on an official visit to India from 1-4 May 2025. This was the first official visit to India by President João Manuel Goncalves Lourenco.

After 38 years, an Angolan President is visiting India. President José Eduardo dos Santos of Angola visited India in April 1987.

Meeting with PM Modi and Highlights of Visit 

President João Manuel Goncalves Lourenco met the Indian President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi, where he was accorded a ceremonial welcome. 

He later met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed bilateral and regional issues.

Both leaders condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, where terrorists killed 26 tourists. 

The following are the major highlights of the Angolan President's visit to India 

Defence 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a $200 million loan to Angola to modernise its armed forces. 

Angola will use the amount to buy defence equipment, transport vehicles, ammunition, and other assets from the Indian public and private sector defence companies.

Angola has also expressed interest in getting India's help in modernising and servicing Angolan Russian weapon systems, such as SU-30 fighter jets. 

Agreements and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) 

Three agreements and MoUs were signed between the two countries. These are:

• Both countries are to cooperate in the Ayurveda field and other traditional medicine systems.
• MoU in the field of Agriculture 
• Cooperation between the two countries in the field of Culture for the period 2025 -29, including a Youth Exchange Program to promote people-to-people ties.

Angola Joins International Solar Alliance

• Angola has become the 123rd country in the world to sign the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement. 

Angola-India Ties 

India and Angola have good ties that go back to the Angolan freedom struggle against Portuguese rule.

India supported the MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola), which has ruled Angola since independence.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1985.

Both countries are celebrating 40 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties.

The first leader to visit India was Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Bilateral trade between the two countries in 2022-24 was $ 4.192 billion.. 

About Angola 

Angola is located in Southwest Africa.

It was a Portuguese colony, and it gained its independence in 1975.

The country is rich in petroleum oil and diamonds.

Capital : Luanda 

Currency: Kwanza

President: Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco