President Joe Biden to Make Historic Visit to Angola on Oct. 13

President Joe Biden’s upcoming trip to Angola on Oct. 13 is set to make history as he will be the first American president to visit the oil-rich country. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced during a press briefing that Biden is fulfilling his commitment to visit the continent of Africa and celebrate the evolving relationship between the U.S. and Angola.

During his visit, President Biden will meet with Angolan President Joao Lourenco to discuss various challenges facing the Central African nation, including the climate crisis. The trip’s schedule is still being developed, but it is expected that Biden will engage in bilateral and multilateral meetings to discuss increased collaboration on shared priorities such as global infrastructure and investment.

One of the key priorities of the trip will be Africa’s first transcontinental open-access rail network, which will connect the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean. According to Jean-Pierre, collaborative partnerships like this can help solve challenges faced by both countries.

While the purpose of the rail network is not explicitly stated, there are speculations that it could help alleviate issues around the supply chain for grain exports from Ukraine to African nations. The blockage in the Black Sea, caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine, has raised concerns about hunger in Africa as vital agricultural goods are unable to reach their destinations.

President Biden has been briefed by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky about the deadlock at the Black Sea ports, which are crucial for transporting agricultural goods from Ukraine to African countries in need. The upcoming trip to Angola is expected to address these critical issues and strengthen the relationship between the U.S. and African nations.