New Delhi, May 3 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a defense credit line of 200 million US dollars to Angola to support the modernization of its armed forces. The announcement came following wide-ranging talks with Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço during his official visit to India. The discussions aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation across various sectors including digital public infrastructure, defense, and critical minerals.
As per agency report, the announcement comes just days after a terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which drew strong condemnation from Indian authorities. During his joint media address with President Lourenço, Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to taking firm and decisive action against terrorism and those who support such activities.
Highlighting the growing strategic partnership, Prime Minister Modi said the visit would not only strengthen India-Angola relations but also reinforce India’s broader partnership with Africa. The defense credit facility is expected to assist Angola in upgrading its military capabilities and infrastructure. The two leaders also discussed support for repair and supply needs of existing defense platforms.
India will further collaborate with Angola in areas such as digital infrastructure for public services, space technology, and capacity building. The discussions also touched upon expanding cooperation in healthcare, diamond processing, fertilizers, and the extraction of critical minerals, sectors vital to both nations’ economic ambitions.
Prime Minister Modi emphasized the importance of India’s partnership with the African Union, reiterating that both sides are key stakeholders in shaping the future of the Global South—a term that broadly refers to developing and underdeveloped nations, largely located in the southern hemisphere.
President Lourenço arrived in New Delhi on Thursday for a four-day official visit, signaling renewed momentum in India-Angola bilateral engagement.
