Genevieve Mallet

Geographically blessed with mineral-rich neighbours to the east and the Atlantic to the west, Angola occupies a pivotal role, providing a vital transport and energy corridor that connects central and southern Africa to global markets while fostering regional trade, industrial development, and economic influence. Angola is positioning itself as a middle power that is strategically non-aligned, appealing to both Chinese and American investment.

Efforts to reduce emissions through the adoption of renewable energy have revealed new vulnerabilities in energy security. As countries shift away from oil-driven conflicts, they are becoming enmeshed in the geopolitics of critical minerals, trading one form of dependence for another.

China now dominates batteries, magnets, rare earths, heavy metals, and the construction of wind turbines and EVs. With the West divided, as the US has withdrawn from climate agreements and collaboration has stalled, geopolitical leverage is increasingly shaping the future of the green transition, rather than climate cooperation. This pause is significant; it represents a tactical intermission rather than a strategic resolution, an acknowledgment of dependency that leaves the rivalry intact.