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Overview
As the second-largest oil producer in Africa, Angola is vital to America's energy security. The success or failure of Angola's postconflict transition, which began in 2002, has implications for security in both central and southern Africa. For these reasons, the United States has an interest in helping Angola address its significant national challenges. Yet the current U.S. administration has not firmly and clearly stated that nurturing U.S.-Angola relations is a government priority.
To address the challenges facing Angola in its postconflict transition, the Council's Center for Preventive Action convened a group of high-level experts to develop a strategic vision for U.S.- Angolan relations. The authors of this report argue that Angola deserves priority attention in the formulation of U.S. foreign, national security, and economic policies, particularly in the design of policy toward Africa. The authors recommend that Washington institute regular political, security, and economic dialogue; sharpen focus on transparency and democratization in Angola; expand technical assistance, capacity-building programs, and military-to-military cooperation; consider alleviation of Angola's external debt; and devote greater attention to investment in and trade with Angola.
Synopsis
The Council on Foreign Relations Center for Preventive Action sponsors an Independent Commission when a country or region that affects U.S. interests, but may be otherwise over looked, is at risk of violent conflict, and when it seems that a group diverse in backgrounds and perspectives may be able to reach a meaningful consensus on a preventive action policy through private and nonpartisan deliberations. Once formed, a Commission is independent. Typically, a commission meets between two and five times over a brief period to ensure the relevance of its work. The Council, a national, nonpartisan membership organization, takes no institutional position on policy issues.