US Secretary of Defense highlights historic opportunity

 Luanda - The Secretary of Defense of the United States of America (USA), Lloyd Austin, highlighted on Wednesday, in Luanda, the historic opportunity that Angola and his country have to strengthen relations in defensive field, with special emphasis on the maritime sector.

Lloyd Austin, who was speaking at the opening of talks between military delegations of the two countries, also welcomed the cooperation in the Atlantic field.

In his statements, he highlighted the fact that he was the first North American Secretary of Defense to travel to Angola, which at the same time shows the value that the United States of America gives to relations between the two countries.

Lloyd Austin highlighted that the two countries currently have a great opportunity to deepen cooperation in the field of maritime defense, defense policy, doctrine, among other areas.

He also expressed his country's satisfaction at being with its allies, fighting against threats such as climate change and illegal fishing, and ensured the willingness of the US Department of Defense to continue cooperating with Angola, as the country is modernizing its Armed Forces.

To those present, he also highlighted the fact that Angola's defense forces are helping to fight against the forces that are trying to destabilize the region, presenting as an example the support for the defense forces of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), in Mozambique, as well as the peace process in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

In turn, the Minister of State and Head of the Military Office of the President, General Francisco Pereira Furtado, said he hopes that negotiations between the two countries can achieve the goals set so that they can, in fact, have a broad cooperation program.

Gen. Francisco Pereira Furtado said that, once defined, this cooperation should begin immediately to be implemented from January 2024.  

In Angola since Tuesday, for a 24-hour visit, as part of a tour of Africa, which has already taken him to Djibouti and Kenya, the US Department of Defense was received in audience, this Wednesday morning, by the President of the Republic, João Lourenço.