Angola's foreign policy

The independence of Angola was proclaimed on November 11, 1975.

Since 1975, Angola has been an active participant in the "Soviet bloc", collaborating not only with the Soviet Union , but also with Libya , Cuba and other socialist countries (except China), Brazil, most African countries, primarily Portuguese-speaking: Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe ^[1] . These ties began during the struggle for independence from Portugal , and gained strength after it was received - right up to the sending of Cuban volunteers to Angola. In addition, the NRA has become a member of the UN, OAU (since 2002 - the African Union) and several other international organizations.

From 1975 to the end of the 1980s, the NRA conducted military operations against the South African regular troops invading the country, whose white minority government supported the Angolan opposition organization National Union for the complete independence of Angola. After the overthrow of the apartheid system in South Africa and the coming to power of the African National Congress in 1994, the state of bilateral relations changed dramatically ^[1] .

In the early 1990s, under the influence of events in the USSR and the world, MPLA-PT abandoned Marxism-Leninism , replacing it with the principles of " democratic socialism ", and decided to transfer the country to a multi-party system and a market economy. The country became known as the Republic of Angola (RA) ^[1] .

In relations with other African countries, Angola defends its interests both through diplomatic and military methods. She joined the Southern African Development Community , and in 1998-2002 she participated in the civil war in Congo on the side of the central government.

The new constitution of Angola adopted in 2010 sets out the basic principles of the country's foreign policy: respect for the UN Charter and the Charter of the African Union, the establishment of relations of friendship and cooperation with all states based on the principles of respect for sovereignty and national independence, equality of states, and the right of peoples to self-determination , peaceful resolution of conflicts, respect for human rights, non-interference in the internal affairs of other states, mutual benefit, rejection and the fight against terrorism, drug trafficking, race ma, corruption; the state opposes the creation of military bases on its territory; it allows the participation of the country, within regional or international organizations, as part of peacekeeping forces, in collective security systems ^[1] .

Developing foreign policy relations, the Angolan leadership relies on the country's rich raw materials. Angola is one of the world's leading exporters of rough diamonds, has become a supplier to the global liquefied natural gas market. The main natural wealth of the country is oil. The Republic of Angola ranks second in its production in sub-Saharan Africa (after Nigeria). Oil helps Angola conduct an independent foreign policy course, an important feature of which some observers call pragmatism ^[2]

Angola plays an important role in ensuring security and cooperation in southern Africa. The country has high authority in Central Africa. As an active participant in the Southern African Development Community, Angola advocates accelerating the construction of infrastructure, integration in the region and creating a new economic order in southern Africa ^[1] .