Portuguese Defense minister will visit Angola amid diplomatic tension
It is not yet know whether or not Azeredo Lopes will be able to meet the Angolan Defense minister during his visit to the country within the scope of technical-military cooperation with CPLP members.
The Portuguese Defense minister should visit Angola in the next couple of weeks, according to information confirmed by the Government to several Portuguese newspapers. Azeredo Lopes’ visit will occur in a time of diplomatic tensions between Portugal and Angola.
Azeredo Lopes will visit the Angola within the scope of technical-military cooperation between Portugal and other members of CPLP (Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries). However, it is still uncertain whether or not Azeredo Lopes will be able to meet his fellow Defense minister.
The Angolan President, João Lourenço, has frozen diplomatic relations with Lisbon, partly because of Operation Fizz, a proceeding whose defendant is former Angolan President, Manuel Vicente. Angolan authorities believe the proceeding should be transferred to Angola, but Portugal rejects that proposal.
The country is holding up the new Lisbon ambassador, after the President José Lourenço exonerated José Marcos Barrica from the position of Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Angola in Lisbon, on April 23rd. The new ambassador has the green light from the Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
