African and European leaders convened in Angola on Monday for the European Union-Africa Summit, a two‑day gathering aimed at strengthening ties between the two continents.
Dozens of heads of state and government are attending the summit in Luanda, Angola, where official discussions will focus on trade, migration and access to critical raw materials.
The EU remains Africa’s largest trading partner, with goods and services exchanges reaching $538 billion in 2023, according to Brussels.
Yet analysts warn that Europe’s position is being challenged by China’s growing resource deals and Russia’s expanding role as a security partner.
Read Also: Vice President to Represent President Tinubu at AU-EU Summit
The Angola summit is the seventh EU-Africa gathering since the partnership was formalized in 2000.
It comes on the heels of a G20 meeting in South Africa where a US boycott underscored widening geopolitical fractures.
For Africa, the summit highlights its growing importance as a diplomatic battleground, with global powers competing for influence over its minerals, energy potential and political support.
Alongside the summit agenda, European leaders are holding emergency consultations on Ukraine.
The talks follow weekend negotiations in Geneva between US, Ukrainian and European officials over a revised American peace plan.
EU leaders, concerned that earlier drafts were tilted towards Moscow, are seeking to assert a stronger role in shaping any settlement.
European Council President António Costa confirmed that leaders of the 27 EU member states would meet on the sidelines in Luanda, with 15 attending in person and the rest joining by video link.
APA/Oyenike Oyeniyi