In October 2024, Turkey announced its readiness to deliver Aksungur combat drones to the Angolan government and provide training for Angolan forces in their use. These drones are capable of performing various intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, which not only enhance Angola’s defensive capabilities but also provide an opportunity to build a robust air force to tackle security challenges threatening the region’s peace and stability.
This initiative falls within the framework of both countries’ commitment to implement agreements made during a meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Angolan President João Lourenço in October 2021 in Luanda. During this meeting, Ankara reaffirmed its willingness to provide all forms of support to the Angolan government in defense and military matters. Additionally, this reflects Turkey’s desire to strengthen its relations with Angola as part of its ongoing efforts over the past years to expand its alliances with African nations, which would enable Turkey to open new markets for trade and arms. Such efforts enhance Turkey’s influence on the African stage and its ability to counterbalance Western, American, and Chinese influence in certain strategic areas across the continent, particularly in West Africa. Angola, in particular, has become an important battleground for American and Chinese competition, alongside Russian attempts to engage with international players seeking to exploit African resources and wealth.
Turkey’s interest in strengthening relations with Angola in recent years underscores its ambitious policy toward Africa, aimed at asserting Turkish influence through various means. Ankara has managed to expand its developing relationships with African nations by leveraging diplomacy, strategic partnerships, economic cooperation, and soft power.
Features of Closeness
Ankara primarily focuses on both economic and military avenues to solidify its strategic relations with Angola. This has manifested in several features indicative of the growing closeness between the two countries, which could serve as a foundation for Turkey’s future engagements in Angola. The most prominent aspects include:
Diplomatic Relations Development: Ankara’s early efforts to engage with any African country focus on enhancing political and diplomatic relations. This is achieved through activating mutual official visits at the presidential level, often referred to as summit diplomacy. This pattern has been particularly evident in the case of Angola since both parties announced the exchange of diplomatic representation in 2010 and 2013, followed by high-level visits. Over the past six years, President Erdoğan and President Lourenço have met multiple times, including in July 2021 in Ankara and in October of the same year in Luanda. They also met on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in South Africa in 2018.
In addition, meetings among ministers from both nations in recent years reflect the positive nature of political and diplomatic ties. Notably, Angola participated in Erdoğan’s inauguration ceremony in 2023 and was also present at the third Turkey-Africa summit held in Ankara in December 2021.
Turkey’s Ambition to Enhance Economic Relations: During his visit to Luanda in October 2021, President Erdoğan affirmed Turkey’s commitment to bolstering trade relations with Angola, emphasizing the need to double trade volume from approximately $250 million in 2021 to $500 million. This demonstrates Turkey’s ongoing desire to secure new markets for Turkish products, enhancing their international competitiveness while also facilitating Turkey’s growing influence on the African continent.
In this context, Ankara has signed multiple economic cooperation agreements with the Angolan government across various sectors to encourage Turkish companies to invest in Angola. During President Lourenço’s visit to Ankara in July 2021, both countries signed over ten cooperation agreements covering trade, economics, mineral resources, transportation, as well as consular and diplomatic affairs.
In October 2021, business representatives from both countries signed several agreements during an economic forum attended by Presidents Erdoğan and Lourenço, focusing on electricity production projects in Angola’s Cabinda, Zaire, and Namibe provinces. An agreement was also reached with a Turkish company to supply power to the mining region of Cassinga in Huíla province, alongside an agreement for professional technical training in the mining sector. Additionally, the Turkish government provided Angola with a $500 million credit line to assist in its economic development.
Turkish Expansion in Investment Projects: Following the establishment of the Turkish-Angolan Joint Economic Committee in July 2017 to emphasize the importance of economic cooperation, both governments have undertaken significant economic reforms in recent years to improve the business environment. This positions them favorably for launching more investment projects across various fields. Both sides have agreed to create conducive investment conditions to attract Turkish investors and companies to Angola, aiming for investments in infrastructure, transport, health, agriculture, oil, and mining.
Consequently, Turkey has diverse investments in Luanda and Uíge provinces across sectors such as industry, trade, education, and civil engineering. By 2021, Turkish construction companies had executed five projects in Angola at a total cost of $809 million. Notably, the Turkish construction group “Onsa” initiated a residential project in 2019 comprising 10,000 housing units worth $520 million. They also commenced another residential project for the Angolan armed forces in 2016, which included 40,000 housing units costing around $2.8 billion.
Additionally, both countries signed a memorandum of understanding on urban planning in March 2022 to develop cooperation in infrastructure, expand solutions to existing urban issues, and promote the development of sustainable and high-quality cities. In the energy sector, Turkish energy company Karpowership announced in January 2024 plans to increase its presence in 15 African countries, including Angola, as part of its goal to double its electricity production capacity on the continent.
Despite Angola not having significant investments in Turkey, it imports various products from Ankara, such as textiles, carpets, and furniture.
Growing Military and Defense Cooperation: The purchase of the Aksungur drone represents a significant step for Angola, notably given its long history of conflict and instability, underscoring the necessity for a focus on military and defense capabilities. By acquiring this type of drone, Angola enhances its defense capabilities through an advanced weapon system, crucial for protecting its security and stability. Despite facing financial difficulties, the Luanda government announced in 2022 that it would allocate over $93 million for the purchase of Turkish drones, which form part of broader defense and security cooperation agreements with Ankara.
Rising Turkish Soft Power: In its quest to win the hearts and minds of Afri cans, Ankara relies heavily on its soft power as a fundamental tool to enhance its broader relations with Angola. This includes continuous support through the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), which has boosted development assistance in various sectors across Angola. In a bid to influence the new elites in the country, Turkey offers scholarships to many Angolan students to study in Turkey, thereby strengthening bilateral ties. This initiative plays a vital role in the growth of Turkish influence in Angola and the broader region.
Key Motivations
Both Turkish and Angolan parties appear to require each other significantly, driven by mutual desires to achieve their strategic interests through collaborative efforts aimed at fulfilling their respective objectives. Several strategic motivations propel each side to reinforce their bilateral relations. The primary motivations related to the Turkish perspective are as follows:
Expanding Partnerships with Africans: Turkey recognizes the importance of Africa’s voting bloc at international forums, representing over 25% of the total membership of the United Nations. Thus, it seeks to strengthen its ties with African nations, including strategically significant Angola. President Erdoğan aims to build a circle of strategic allies throughout Africa, including Angolan President Lourenço, contributing to Turkey’s long-term strategic goals.
Opening New Markets: Ankara consistently searches for economic opportunities and new markets to promote its industrial products and arms exports, which have become a critical foundation for enhancing Turkish influence in Africa. Angola, with its vast economic potential and abundant natural resources, holds strategic importance for Turkey.
Acquisition of Iron Ore Mines: The competition for natural resources in Africa is a prominent motivation for active powers, including Turkey, which aims to solidify its presence in Luanda to capitalize on iron ore mines and other local resources. In August 2024, Turkish Tosyali Holding, a steel production company, announced plans to collaborate with Angola’s Sonangol oil company to establish an integrated steel plant. Through this partnership, Tosyali Steel Angola (the subsidiary) will revitalize mining operations in the Cassinga area, which harbors the largest iron ore reserves. The new minerals factory is expected to be completed by 2027, potentially yielding direct benefits for broader local economic development in Angola and creating avenues for industrial investment across multiple sectors beyond oil and natural gas.
Ensuring Oil Access: Turkey understands the significance of securing its access to oil and natural gas from Africa. It thus seeks to enhance strategic partnerships with African oil-producing countries, particularly Angola. In July 2024, Turkish Kalik Energy successfully secured a significant energy contract in Angola, reflecting Turkish companies’ desire to establish a strategic foothold in Luanda.
Ankara’s Desire to Build a Positive Image in Africa: Turkey aspires to present itself as a strategic partner for African nations, including Angola, by promoting Turkish expertise in critical areas valued by Africans, especially technology and security. Turkish arms exports enhance the capabilities of African countries, particularly Angola, in addressing security challenges, including counter-terrorism. Turkey has expressed its commitment to continue supporting African nations, particularly Angola, in their anti-terrorism efforts.
Balancing Western Influence: Turkey is acutely aware of the international competition, particularly the U.S.-China rivalry and Russian engagement in Angola aiming to seize the wealth and resources typical of this nation. Ankara thus attempts to position itself as a viable alternative to these major international powers, capable of multi-faceted roles in various African issues as part of its strategy to assert itself against Western, American, and other influences in critical areas of Africa.
In summary, Turkey’s efforts to expand its relations with African nations undoubtedly contribute to enhancing its growing influence on the continent. Thus, Turkish initiatives in this regard will persist, with the hope of solidifying its position and presence on the African stage while balancing the influence of Western, American, Chinese, and Russian powers in strategically important regions of Africa in the coming period.
