Dozens of European and African leaders are converging in Luanda, Angola for a major summit starting Monday that aims to strengthen economic and security partnerships between the two continents, even as emergency talks on the Ukraine conflict threaten to dominate proceedings.
High-Stakes Diplomacy Amid Ukraine Tensions
The two-day gathering brings together prominent figures including France's Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Friedrich Merz, and Kenya's William Ruto at a critical juncture in international relations. The summit occurs against the backdrop of a significant rift between the United States and Europe over Washington's proposed plan to end Russia's war in Ukraine.
EU leaders are particularly concerned about US President Donald Trump's 28-point draft plan to stop the conflict, which many European officials initially viewed as heavily favoring Moscow. The urgency of the situation prompted EU leaders to schedule a special meeting on the sidelines of the Luanda gathering to coordinate their response.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb emphasized the ongoing challenges, stating there is still substantial work required on the proposed peace plan following Sunday's talks between US and Ukrainian representatives in Geneva.
Revitalizing EU-Africa Partnership
This seventh EU-Africa summit marks 25 years of formal relations between the European Union and African Union, coming shortly after a G20 meeting in South Africa that highlighted deepening geopolitical divisions. Analysts suggest Europe must significantly revamp its approach if it hopes to maintain its position as Africa's primary international partner.
The continent has emerged as a crucial diplomatic battleground with China, the United States, and Russia all competing for access to Africa's mineral resources, energy potential, and political support. Despite the EU remaining Africa's leading source of foreign direct investment and commercial partnership, with trade reaching 467 billion euros ($538 billion) in 2023, European influence has faced notable setbacks.
Geert Laporte of the European think tank ECDPM noted that Gulf states and Turkey have made substantial inroads, giving African nations greater choice and bargaining power in their international partnerships. We don't have that situation anymore where Europe was the only partner, Laporte observed, emphasizing that EU capitals must now develop compelling offers to outperform the competition.
From Promises to Practical Results
The summit agenda focuses on several key areas including trade enhancement, migration management, and security cooperation. However, boosting commercial exchanges takes priority as both continents face challenges from US tariffs. EU diplomats indicated the bloc will offer expertise to help increase intra-African trade, which currently accounts for a modest 15 percent of Africa's total trade.
A crucial component involves securing critical minerals essential for Europe's green transition, reducing dependency on China for rare earths needed for technology and electronic goods. The EU plans to showcase investments under its Global Gateway initiative, a massive infrastructure plan designed to counter China's growing influence across Africa.
Host country Angola features one of the signature projects: the Lobito corridor railway, funded through EU-US partnership to connect mineral-rich regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia to Atlantic ports. While EU diplomats present such ventures as mutually beneficial, critics argue they sometimes replicate extractive colonial practices without delivering substantial local benefits.
Nuur Mohamud Sheekh, African Union spokesman, captured the prevailing sentiment among African leaders: Africa is looking not for new declarations but for credible, implementable commitments. This perspective was echoed by Ikemesit Effiong of Nigeria-based SBM Intelligence, who stressed that Europe's credibility now depends on whether it can support the delivery of projects that create value in Africa, not just visibility for Brussels.
The Luanda summit represents a critical test of whether the EU-Africa partnership can evolve beyond historical patterns toward genuinely equitable cooperation that delivers tangible benefits for African communities while addressing Europe's strategic interests.
