WEBVTT 00:00.009 --> 00:02.349 The United States of America to the 00:02.359 --> 00:05.130 Republic of Angola and the Democratic 00:05.139 --> 00:07.250 Republic of Sao Tome and Principe 00:08.159 --> 00:09.159 doctor . 00:22.770 --> 00:26.389 Yeah , Excellency 00:28.149 --> 00:29.489 MS Carolina , 00:31.000 --> 00:34.340 president er president , I guess it's 00:34.349 --> 00:36.650 in English , a president of the 00:36.659 --> 00:40.529 National Assembly Excellency , Laurinda 00:41.369 --> 00:44.979 Cardozo , uh President of 00:44.990 --> 00:48.479 the Constitutional Court , uh 00:48.490 --> 00:50.450 Minister of State , 00:52.709 --> 00:56.360 uh General Furtado uh Minister of 00:56.369 --> 00:58.770 State , a Almeida uh 00:59.909 --> 01:03.470 Minister of State uh Dalva Rete 01:04.760 --> 01:08.410 Allen , members of the 01:08.419 --> 01:10.129 Angolan government , 01:11.830 --> 01:14.819 distinguished guests and all 01:14.830 --> 01:17.870 protocol observed . Ladies and 01:17.879 --> 01:21.190 gentlemen , good 01:21.199 --> 01:24.819 afternoon and welcome to 01:24.830 --> 01:27.699 this event . I thank you 01:27.849 --> 01:31.519 Angola's National Historical Archive 01:31.839 --> 01:34.949 and Director Constance dota 01:36.099 --> 01:39.610 for hosting us in this beautiful 01:39.620 --> 01:42.290 facility for this uh 01:42.300 --> 01:46.160 historic occasion this year . 01:46.660 --> 01:47.430 Thank you . 01:52.230 --> 01:56.169 This year marks 30 years of 01:56.180 --> 01:59.519 diplomatic relations between the people 01:59.529 --> 02:02.120 of Angola and the people of the United 02:02.129 --> 02:03.900 States of America between the 02:03.910 --> 02:06.589 government of Angola and the government 02:06.599 --> 02:09.539 of the United States of America . Today . 02:09.649 --> 02:13.289 As a continuation of that celebration , 02:13.559 --> 02:16.559 I have the distinct honor to 02:16.570 --> 02:19.500 introduce the first ever 02:20.330 --> 02:23.580 visit of a United States of 02:23.589 --> 02:26.910 America . Secretary of Defense to 02:27.130 --> 02:30.699 Angola . Secretary Austin is is a 02:30.710 --> 02:34.080 man who needs no introduction , but I 02:34.089 --> 02:37.889 will try anyway , but I want to briefly 02:37.899 --> 02:41.169 highlight his incredible 02:41.179 --> 02:44.529 career and the significance 02:44.949 --> 02:48.750 of this visit for the USA 02:48.759 --> 02:51.729 Angola relationship . Secretary Austin 02:51.740 --> 02:54.259 graduated from the United States 02:54.270 --> 02:57.160 Military Academy at West Point 02:57.240 --> 03:00.009 beginning , ladies and gentlemen , a 03:00.020 --> 03:03.619 41 41 year military 03:03.630 --> 03:07.139 career that took him from infantry 03:07.550 --> 03:10.880 officer to four star 03:10.889 --> 03:14.509 general . In 2021 President Biden 03:15.600 --> 03:18.929 asked him to return to service 03:19.600 --> 03:23.279 duty and service to return to service 03:23.289 --> 03:26.970 as a civilian to lead the men and 03:26.979 --> 03:30.220 women of our Department of Defense . 03:30.570 --> 03:32.919 And more importantly to build 03:32.929 --> 03:36.740 partnership with our friends and allies 03:36.910 --> 03:39.899 around the world including Angola . 03:40.860 --> 03:44.029 His visit to Angola highlights the 03:44.039 --> 03:47.729 shared security goals between 03:47.740 --> 03:50.710 our two nations , between our two 03:50.720 --> 03:54.380 people . It also reflects the growth of 03:54.389 --> 03:58.229 our partnership with increasing numbers 03:58.240 --> 04:01.410 of Angolan service members studying 04:01.419 --> 04:03.960 alongside their us counterparts and 04:03.970 --> 04:07.020 training shoulder to shoulder in 04:07.029 --> 04:10.000 exercises , whether here in Angola , 04:10.009 --> 04:12.539 whether in the United States of America , 04:12.710 --> 04:15.960 anywhere else in the world . This 04:15.970 --> 04:18.320 historic visit , ladies and gentlemen 04:18.410 --> 04:21.200 of Secretary Austin , our nation's 04:21.209 --> 04:24.239 highest defense official is a 04:24.250 --> 04:28.019 testament of the importance Angola 04:28.029 --> 04:31.720 holds for the United States of America . 04:31.820 --> 04:35.720 And our commitment to deepen our 04:35.730 --> 04:39.720 strategic partnership to assure 04:39.970 --> 04:43.359 security and prosperity 04:43.809 --> 04:47.459 to the people of Angola , Africa 04:47.679 --> 04:49.623 and the United States , the United 04:49.623 --> 04:52.989 States of America . So ladies and 04:53.000 --> 04:56.380 gentlemen , put your hands together and 04:56.390 --> 04:59.089 silence your phone , put your hands 04:59.100 --> 05:02.750 together and help 05:02.760 --> 05:06.029 me welcome to the podium . 05:06.239 --> 05:09.609 Secretary , United States Secretary of 05:09.619 --> 05:13.010 Defense Lloyd J . Austin the third 05:40.269 --> 05:42.325 Well , thank you ambassador for that 05:42.325 --> 05:44.690 very kind introduction and good 05:44.700 --> 05:48.470 afternoon , everyone . You know , this 05:48.480 --> 05:50.420 really is an outstanding crowd . 05:52.420 --> 05:54.970 Mr President , Ministers of State 05:55.820 --> 05:59.149 Ministers , justices , ambassadors , 05:59.429 --> 06:01.630 distinguished guests . Thank you all 06:01.640 --> 06:04.910 for being here today . It is indeed the 06:04.920 --> 06:07.200 honor of a lifetime to be here with all 06:07.209 --> 06:09.959 of you . And this is my first trip 06:09.970 --> 06:12.359 across Africa as a US Secretary of 06:12.369 --> 06:15.220 Defense . And it's also the very first 06:15.230 --> 06:17.563 visit . As you heard the ambassador say , 06:17.563 --> 06:20.040 the very first visit to Angola by an 06:20.049 --> 06:24.049 American Secretary of Defense . So it 06:24.059 --> 06:25.948 is especially fitting that we are 06:25.948 --> 06:28.820 gathered at Angola's National Archive 06:29.739 --> 06:32.679 because I believe that we can make even 06:32.690 --> 06:35.529 more history together and we can make 06:35.899 --> 06:38.149 even more progress together . 06:39.839 --> 06:41.880 My team and I arrived in Angola 06:41.890 --> 06:43.980 yesterday after some great meetings 06:44.299 --> 06:46.850 with our valued partners in Djibouti 06:46.859 --> 06:50.609 and Kenya . And I'm especially pleased 06:51.130 --> 06:54.730 to be wrapping up a busy week long trip 06:54.929 --> 06:58.730 to Africa here in Angola . Over the 06:58.739 --> 07:01.309 past few years , America's relationship 07:01.320 --> 07:05.119 with Angola has taken huge strides and 07:05.130 --> 07:08.269 Angola has become a highly valued , 07:08.529 --> 07:11.440 highly capable partner for the United 07:11.450 --> 07:15.440 States and a rising leader in 07:15.450 --> 07:19.350 the region and beyond . So we're 07:19.359 --> 07:21.440 deepening our cooperation with your 07:21.450 --> 07:23.869 government on military modernization 07:24.609 --> 07:28.480 and training and maritime security and 07:28.489 --> 07:31.519 medical readiness . And we're committed 07:31.529 --> 07:33.640 to working together even more closely 07:33.640 --> 07:36.230 on peacekeeping , climate , 07:36.239 --> 07:39.779 intelligence , space cooperation and 07:39.790 --> 07:43.570 more . So I'm here in Angola 07:44.339 --> 07:46.660 to strengthen that robust and equal 07:46.670 --> 07:50.329 partnership . But I'm 07:50.339 --> 07:54.019 also here to underscore an important 07:54.029 --> 07:57.579 point . And that is that 07:57.589 --> 07:59.149 Africa matters , 08:02.000 --> 08:04.111 it matters profoundly to the shape of 08:04.111 --> 08:07.070 the 21st century world and it matters 08:07.079 --> 08:09.290 for our common prosperity and our 08:09.299 --> 08:12.739 shared security . And Africa also 08:12.750 --> 08:15.630 matters deeply to the United States and 08:15.640 --> 08:18.570 to my boss , President Biden . And I 08:18.579 --> 08:20.679 can tell you firsthand that the 08:20.690 --> 08:22.523 president believes that Africa's 08:22.523 --> 08:25.380 success is crucial to all of our 08:25.390 --> 08:29.070 futures . You know , his passion for 08:29.079 --> 08:32.119 Africa goes all the way back to his 08:32.130 --> 08:35.820 days as a young senator . So 08:36.169 --> 08:38.340 when President Biden spoke to 08:40.280 --> 08:44.119 African leaders from 49 countries , he 08:44.130 --> 08:47.229 said it from the heart , the United 08:47.239 --> 08:50.559 States is all in on Africa's future . 08:52.260 --> 08:54.482 Now , the president also knows that the 08:54.482 --> 08:56.427 continent faces major challenges . 08:57.530 --> 09:00.280 Africa is on the front lines of many of 09:00.429 --> 09:02.929 the 21st century's most urgent shared 09:02.940 --> 09:05.890 threats , pandemics , 09:06.900 --> 09:10.539 food insecurity , the climate crisis , 09:11.340 --> 09:15.260 terrorism , the plundering of resources 09:15.369 --> 09:17.380 and the return of autocracy . 09:19.289 --> 09:21.456 But as I've seen firsthand this week , 09:22.479 --> 09:26.309 some inspiring , very inspiring African 09:26.320 --> 09:29.049 leaders and activists and change makers 09:29.489 --> 09:33.190 are on those front lines as well and 09:33.200 --> 09:35.580 they're confronting a whole range of 09:35.590 --> 09:39.580 big challenges . Head on . I'm 09:39.590 --> 09:43.130 thinking today of a young Angolan 09:44.159 --> 09:47.969 named Boa Fernando and I 09:47.979 --> 09:49.919 think is here with us today 09:58.619 --> 10:01.219 is an entrepreneur working to end food 10:01.229 --> 10:04.619 insecurity here in Angola . And several 10:04.630 --> 10:06.686 years ago , he received a fellowship 10:06.686 --> 10:08.797 from our State Department to study in 10:08.797 --> 10:12.619 the United States . So this son of 10:12.630 --> 10:16.059 Angola found himself in Iowa 10:17.750 --> 10:20.760 and Iowa is a state where the average 10:20.770 --> 10:23.219 low temperature in January is around 10:23.229 --> 10:25.559 minus nine °C . 10:27.780 --> 10:30.119 But Iowa is also a major producer of 10:30.130 --> 10:32.619 corn , a crop that's in high demand 10:32.630 --> 10:35.419 here in Angola . And Mr Fernando 10:35.429 --> 10:39.119 realized that he could use his skills 10:39.640 --> 10:42.380 and the relationships that he had built 10:42.390 --> 10:45.679 in Iowa to connect American farmers 10:46.000 --> 10:49.559 with Angolan consumers and bring corn 10:49.570 --> 10:51.599 from Iowa to the shores of Angola . 10:53.530 --> 10:55.363 And that's great for both of our 10:55.363 --> 10:58.719 countries . In fact , he was so 10:58.729 --> 11:02.630 inspired by his time in Iowa that 11:02.640 --> 11:05.169 he is now working to adapt the 11:05.179 --> 11:07.380 agricultural bus , agricultural 11:07.390 --> 11:10.419 business models that he saw there in 11:10.429 --> 11:13.960 Iowa to grow Angola's own food stocks . 11:14.150 --> 11:17.729 Now , that's a story of drive and 11:17.739 --> 11:20.489 partnership . So let's let's get out 11:20.500 --> 11:21.500 here 11:29.030 --> 11:31.030 and that's just a tale of one young 11:31.030 --> 11:33.400 person . But when you stack all 11:33.409 --> 11:35.809 together all the energy of this , of 11:35.820 --> 11:39.250 this country in this continent and when 11:39.260 --> 11:41.316 you add up everything that I've seen 11:41.316 --> 11:43.316 this week , well , I come away from 11:43.316 --> 11:45.482 this trip with a whole lot of optimism 11:45.599 --> 11:49.590 about Africa's future . As President 11:49.599 --> 11:51.929 Biden says , there's a fundamental 11:51.940 --> 11:55.059 truth of the 21st century that our own 11:55.070 --> 11:58.359 success is bound up with others 11:58.369 --> 11:59.700 succeeding as well . 12:02.309 --> 12:04.642 So when we all have a seat at the table , 12:05.859 --> 12:08.919 when we work as equals towards shared 12:08.929 --> 12:11.760 goals , when we listen and not just 12:11.770 --> 12:15.710 lecture , when we invest in our common 12:15.719 --> 12:19.210 security , then we have building blocks 12:19.960 --> 12:23.349 for a partnership , a principle and 12:23.359 --> 12:27.250 progress . The United States is deeply 12:27.260 --> 12:30.159 committed to making sure that Africa 12:30.169 --> 12:33.390 enjoys all of the protections of the 12:33.400 --> 12:35.840 international rules and norms that 12:35.849 --> 12:38.440 advance security and prosperity . 12:40.489 --> 12:42.433 You know , other countries may see 12:42.433 --> 12:45.739 African countries as proxies or even 12:45.750 --> 12:49.159 pawns , but we see African nations as 12:49.169 --> 12:52.539 partners . The Biden administration 12:52.549 --> 12:55.070 believes that the future is being 12:55.080 --> 12:58.280 written today in Africa 13:00.010 --> 13:02.066 and we want to move forward together 13:02.450 --> 13:04.617 through growing partnerships rooted in 13:04.617 --> 13:07.440 mutual cooperation and mutual respect . 13:10.640 --> 13:11.973 Now , you've heard this 13:11.973 --> 13:14.469 administration's commitment to Africa 13:14.479 --> 13:18.349 from President Biden , Vice President 13:18.359 --> 13:21.700 Harris Secretary of State Lincoln , 13:22.559 --> 13:25.250 the first lady and many more . 13:26.419 --> 13:29.229 But as the Secretary of Defense , I'd 13:29.239 --> 13:32.450 like to focus today on how we can build 13:32.460 --> 13:35.190 on defense partnerships that advance 13:35.200 --> 13:37.179 our shared security and extend our 13:37.190 --> 13:40.679 shared values . So I'd like to talk 13:40.690 --> 13:42.912 about how the United States military is 13:42.912 --> 13:44.912 working with our valued partners in 13:44.912 --> 13:47.429 Africa to make the continent and the 13:47.440 --> 13:51.109 world more secure , more open . 13:52.049 --> 13:55.809 And just , I'll talk frankly 13:55.820 --> 13:57.876 about the challenges that we face on 13:57.876 --> 14:00.630 security , counter terrorism and 21st 14:00.640 --> 14:04.090 century dangers . And I'll tell you why 14:04.750 --> 14:06.650 I'm so optimistic that our shared 14:06.659 --> 14:09.679 future is one of peace , prosperity and 14:09.690 --> 14:11.729 above all freedom . 14:14.039 --> 14:17.229 No , our military cooperation with our 14:17.239 --> 14:19.599 African partners today is far stronger 14:19.609 --> 14:21.553 than it was just a few years ago . 14:23.130 --> 14:26.799 We're working to deepen defense 14:26.809 --> 14:28.642 relationships that are rooted in 14:28.642 --> 14:32.380 equality and mutual respect . We're 14:32.390 --> 14:34.334 joining hands with new partners in 14:34.334 --> 14:37.239 building new coalitions to oppose 14:37.250 --> 14:39.260 aggression and uphold sovereignty . 14:41.010 --> 14:43.359 And we're , we're empowering our 14:43.369 --> 14:46.330 partners to pursue locally 14:46.469 --> 14:50.179 nationally and regionally led solutions 14:50.500 --> 14:53.020 to the dangers that they face . 14:55.369 --> 14:57.702 These threats include violent extremism , 14:58.880 --> 15:01.530 piracy , cyber 15:01.799 --> 15:04.200 vulnerabilities and climate disasters 15:05.400 --> 15:07.659 all too often made worse by weak 15:07.669 --> 15:10.299 governance and predatory institutions 15:10.849 --> 15:14.719 and persistent poverty . So we're 15:14.729 --> 15:17.609 determined to work with our valued 15:17.619 --> 15:20.799 African partners to develop the 15:20.809 --> 15:22.809 capabilities that they need to keep 15:22.809 --> 15:25.780 their people safe . So our 15:25.789 --> 15:28.979 Outstanding Us Africa command led by 15:28.989 --> 15:32.219 General Michael Langley provides a 15:32.229 --> 15:36.000 range of support to our partners in our 15:36.010 --> 15:39.609 in , in , in Africa and that includes 15:40.250 --> 15:42.139 professional military education , 15:42.729 --> 15:45.900 capacity , building , counterterrorism , 15:46.400 --> 15:49.219 logistics , and much much more 15:50.849 --> 15:52.960 to further grow the capacities of our 15:52.960 --> 15:55.859 African partners . President Biden last 15:55.869 --> 15:58.500 year , established the 21st century 15:58.510 --> 16:00.820 partnership for African security . 16:02.299 --> 16:04.940 This important initiative supports 16:05.429 --> 16:07.510 Ari's work up and down the continent 16:07.669 --> 16:10.429 from building up maritime capabilities 16:10.440 --> 16:13.039 and capacities in Djibouti to training 16:13.049 --> 16:15.440 alongside Kenyan forces on special 16:15.450 --> 16:18.760 operations . Now , many of our 16:18.770 --> 16:22.159 partnerships including with Angola 16:22.599 --> 16:25.859 focus on our expanding cooperation on 16:25.869 --> 16:29.780 maritime security . African coastal 16:29.789 --> 16:32.530 nations must be able to tackle threats 16:32.539 --> 16:35.940 at sea from trafficking and piracy to 16:36.190 --> 16:40.030 illegal and unregulated fishing . So 16:40.039 --> 16:41.983 we're working with our partners to 16:42.039 --> 16:45.630 block illicit activity to deepen 16:45.640 --> 16:48.780 interoperability at sea , to protect 16:48.789 --> 16:51.229 local fisheries and to keep the 16:51.239 --> 16:53.869 commercial shipping lanes free for 16:53.880 --> 16:57.799 everyone . Far too 16:57.809 --> 17:01.080 many Africans still face persistent 17:01.090 --> 17:02.812 threats from violent extremist 17:02.812 --> 17:06.500 organizations , terrorist groups like 17:06.510 --> 17:09.430 Al Shabaab and Isis 17:10.239 --> 17:12.900 deliberately target innocent civilians 17:13.000 --> 17:15.959 and wreak havoc on communities across 17:15.969 --> 17:19.069 the continent and their cruelty , 17:19.079 --> 17:20.959 propels waves of suffering and 17:20.969 --> 17:24.109 instability that spill across borders . 17:25.939 --> 17:28.439 So African security forces must be able 17:28.449 --> 17:30.869 to combat these groups and defend their 17:30.880 --> 17:32.991 sovereignty to protect their people . 17:34.920 --> 17:36.969 And that's a key focus for Africa . 17:40.000 --> 17:43.109 Last year , the United States re 17:43.119 --> 17:46.089 established a small persistent military 17:46.099 --> 17:50.060 presence in Somalia that has led 17:50.069 --> 17:53.420 us to do far more to advise , assist 17:53.430 --> 17:56.339 and train the forces taking the fight 17:56.349 --> 17:59.500 to Al Shabaab . And under 17:59.510 --> 18:03.130 President Hassan Sheikh Somalia has 18:03.140 --> 18:06.949 made important strides towards retaking 18:06.959 --> 18:10.040 its territory and disrupting the 18:10.050 --> 18:13.939 group's vicious attacks . We're also 18:13.949 --> 18:15.727 deepening our counter terrorism 18:15.727 --> 18:18.489 cooperation with Kenya and Morocco , 18:18.949 --> 18:22.660 Tunisia , Djibouti and many others . 18:24.290 --> 18:26.589 And the United States is helping our 18:26.599 --> 18:28.650 friends in Africa to build strong 18:28.660 --> 18:31.229 institutions and to tackle the long 18:31.239 --> 18:33.400 term forces that breed extremism . 18:35.810 --> 18:37.900 But we also take a broader view of 18:37.910 --> 18:40.880 security . You know , it's always 18:40.890 --> 18:44.569 easier to stamp out an ember than it is 18:44.579 --> 18:47.829 to put out a blaze . So we're doubling 18:47.839 --> 18:49.550 down on conflict prevention , 18:49.560 --> 18:53.150 especially through the US strategy to 18:53.160 --> 18:55.630 prevent conflict and to promote 18:55.640 --> 18:59.089 stability . We're working with seven 18:59.099 --> 19:01.680 African partners to find creative ways 19:02.239 --> 19:05.780 to prevent conflict before it starts 19:06.329 --> 19:08.500 and to invest in local locally led 19:08.510 --> 19:11.979 solutions to buttress lasting peace . 19:14.359 --> 19:16.560 One of our key partners here is 19:16.569 --> 19:19.430 Mozambique , whose president I just 19:19.439 --> 19:23.410 hosted at the Pentagon last week , four 19:23.420 --> 19:27.199 years ago , the Maputo Peace Accords 19:27.209 --> 19:29.949 sought to end the year long surge in 19:29.959 --> 19:33.810 violence and since then nearly all 19:33.819 --> 19:36.430 former combatants have been demobilized . 19:37.410 --> 19:40.420 And Mozambique is working to get former 19:40.430 --> 19:43.479 fighters integrated into promising new 19:43.489 --> 19:47.099 lives . Now , that work is far from 19:47.109 --> 19:50.079 finished . But it is an inspiring 19:50.089 --> 19:52.609 example of how a country can move from 19:52.800 --> 19:56.229 a fragile ceasefire toward lasting 19:56.239 --> 19:56.939 stability . 20:00.010 --> 20:02.066 Now , an important part of our peace 20:02.066 --> 20:04.329 and security work is bringing more 20:04.339 --> 20:05.979 women to the table . 20:08.900 --> 20:11.010 Women and girls often suffer 20:11.020 --> 20:13.520 disproportionately from war and 20:13.530 --> 20:17.010 conflict . But when women get to lead , 20:18.500 --> 20:21.579 when they can participate and 20:21.589 --> 20:25.040 participate fully as negotiators , the 20:25.050 --> 20:28.609 chances of a just and lasting success 20:29.569 --> 20:30.770 go way up . 20:39.369 --> 20:41.313 And so that's why Angola hosted an 20:41.313 --> 20:43.979 important conference on women , peace 20:43.989 --> 20:47.969 and security in March . Now , we're 20:47.979 --> 20:50.560 also working more closely with our 20:50.569 --> 20:52.660 African partners on several emerging 20:52.670 --> 20:55.239 threats and like the rest of the world 20:55.250 --> 20:57.180 life in African countries is 20:57.189 --> 21:00.609 increasingly online . So we've been 21:00.619 --> 21:02.452 working together to deepen cyber 21:02.452 --> 21:04.790 security for our friends as well as 21:04.800 --> 21:08.189 expanding cyber information sharing to 21:08.199 --> 21:11.020 help African countries fight the 21:11.030 --> 21:13.579 digital malice of outside 21:13.589 --> 21:17.099 misinformation and disinformation . 21:19.750 --> 21:21.972 We are also cooperating more closely in 21:21.972 --> 21:25.869 space last year . At the 21:25.880 --> 21:29.160 first US Africa Space Forum , we 21:29.170 --> 21:31.270 committed to working together on the 21:31.280 --> 21:33.589 peaceful use and exploration of Outer 21:33.599 --> 21:37.560 Space . And I am delighted that 21:37.569 --> 21:41.069 Nigeria and Rwanda recently signed the 21:41.079 --> 21:44.709 Auto Accords which lay out principles 21:45.079 --> 21:47.439 to guide space exploration and these 21:47.449 --> 21:50.959 principles are shared principles and we 21:50.969 --> 21:53.136 look forward to doing much , much more 21:53.136 --> 21:55.025 with our African partners in this 21:55.025 --> 21:58.520 important domain . We're also brought 21:58.530 --> 22:01.739 together by the ongoing battle 22:01.750 --> 22:04.099 against infectious disease . 22:05.640 --> 22:08.869 So we're redoubling our efforts on 22:08.880 --> 22:10.979 pandemic , the response and medical 22:10.989 --> 22:13.869 readiness . You know , 22:13.880 --> 22:17.880 COVID-19 taught the whole world a stark 22:17.890 --> 22:21.530 lesson . And that lesson is 22:21.540 --> 22:25.050 that a threat to global health anywhere , 22:26.130 --> 22:29.400 is a threat to security everywhere . 22:30.869 --> 22:33.199 So I am proud that the United States 22:34.250 --> 22:36.530 delivered some 22:38.800 --> 22:42.030 I think 2 million , 200 million 22:42.290 --> 22:44.770 vaccines . COVID vaccines to Sub 22:44.780 --> 22:48.109 Saharan Africa including nearly 11 22:48.119 --> 22:51.099 million to the people of Angola . And 22:51.109 --> 22:53.165 during the first months of the COVID 22:53.165 --> 22:55.560 pandemic , the Department of Defense 22:56.310 --> 22:58.540 provided medical , medical equipment 22:59.420 --> 23:02.810 and assistance 23:03.050 --> 23:06.250 to our , our partners here in Angola . 23:06.260 --> 23:08.482 And and we're very , very proud of that 23:08.482 --> 23:10.260 along with the work that we did 23:10.260 --> 23:11.930 throughout the rest of Africa 23:21.609 --> 23:24.010 also works regularly alongside our 23:24.020 --> 23:27.280 African partners to prevent outbreaks 23:27.290 --> 23:29.739 in stand up clinics and field hospitals 23:30.089 --> 23:32.079 and train for future crises . 23:33.750 --> 23:37.280 Last year . Right here in Angola , 23:38.069 --> 23:40.319 your armed forces hosted the first 23:40.380 --> 23:43.869 medical readiness exercises ever 23:43.880 --> 23:47.250 conducted in this country . And earlier 23:47.260 --> 23:50.530 this year in Kenya , us and Kenyan 23:50.540 --> 23:53.079 military medical personnel treated 23:53.089 --> 23:55.729 Kenyan patients together during a two 23:55.739 --> 23:58.699 day clinic . You know , one of our 23:58.709 --> 24:00.920 medics , one young American medic 24:01.270 --> 24:03.319 recalled learning from his Kenyan 24:03.329 --> 24:06.469 counterpart , a vital new technique for 24:06.479 --> 24:10.050 caring for expectant mothers . And 24:10.060 --> 24:13.800 that's just another example of the 24:13.810 --> 24:15.910 expertise that our African partners 24:15.920 --> 24:19.109 bring . Now 24:20.209 --> 24:23.449 that takes me to the climate crisis in 24:23.459 --> 24:25.979 this continent has seen firsthand how 24:25.989 --> 24:28.719 unpredictable weather in natural 24:28.729 --> 24:31.589 disasters and other fallout from 24:31.599 --> 24:33.930 climate change can produce poverty , 24:33.939 --> 24:36.489 instability and insecurity . 24:38.140 --> 24:40.029 So we're working with our African 24:40.029 --> 24:43.140 partners to grow your capacity to stand 24:43.150 --> 24:45.810 up early warning systems , improve 24:45.819 --> 24:48.459 resilience and strengthen emergency 24:48.469 --> 24:52.109 management . And A is working with our 24:52.119 --> 24:54.780 partner militaries to improve their 24:54.790 --> 24:57.489 readiness , preserve land 24:58.390 --> 25:01.339 and protect natural resources . 25:04.079 --> 25:05.912 There is a common thread running 25:05.912 --> 25:09.219 through these many areas of 25:09.229 --> 25:13.050 cooperation . I'll work together , 25:13.800 --> 25:16.660 supports our shared interest in a 25:16.670 --> 25:19.209 secure resilient and open Africa 25:20.089 --> 25:22.319 governed by laws and rules that allow 25:22.329 --> 25:26.270 everyone to prosper . And so the United 25:26.280 --> 25:29.020 States will never take your partnership 25:29.030 --> 25:32.839 for granted . The people of Africa 25:33.280 --> 25:36.010 deserve to chart their own sovereign 25:36.020 --> 25:39.619 paths . And so we aren't asking African 25:39.630 --> 25:43.020 countries to choose any side other than 25:43.030 --> 25:46.349 their own . You see , Africa deserves 25:46.359 --> 25:48.581 better than outsiders trying to tighten 25:48.581 --> 25:51.420 their grip on this continent . Africa 25:51.430 --> 25:53.949 deserves better than autocrats selling 25:53.959 --> 25:56.760 cheap guns and pushing mercenary forces 25:56.770 --> 25:59.390 like the Wagner group or depriving 25:59.400 --> 26:02.000 grain from hungry people around the 26:02.010 --> 26:05.670 world . President Biden has 26:05.680 --> 26:08.520 said the future will belong to those 26:08.530 --> 26:12.020 who embrace dignity and not trample it . 26:14.170 --> 26:17.839 So we want our work together to produce 26:17.849 --> 26:20.949 lasting security and not a brittle 26:20.959 --> 26:24.939 status quo . And we can all see the 26:24.949 --> 26:27.250 damage when leaders turn predatory , 26:27.359 --> 26:30.520 predatory or institutions grab 26:30.530 --> 26:32.170 resources for themselves 26:35.040 --> 26:38.660 for lasting success . African 26:38.670 --> 26:42.469 countries need responsive , transparent 26:42.839 --> 26:46.079 and civilian led institutions that 26:46.089 --> 26:49.119 uphold human rights and defend the rule 26:49.130 --> 26:51.920 of law and work for all other people . 27:00.310 --> 27:03.199 And Africa needs civilian leaders who 27:03.209 --> 27:06.239 keep faith with their citizens and heed 27:06.250 --> 27:09.780 their voices . As President 27:09.790 --> 27:12.709 Obama said in Ghana in 2009 , 27:14.280 --> 27:17.130 Africa doesn't need strong men , it 27:17.140 --> 27:19.410 needs strong institutions . 27:21.619 --> 27:23.675 So the United States is committed to 27:23.680 --> 27:26.400 supporting whole of government policies 27:26.959 --> 27:30.069 and advance peace , security 27:30.800 --> 27:33.089 and democratic governance together . 27:34.209 --> 27:37.750 And those elements are inseparable . 27:39.689 --> 27:42.079 And that's especially important at this 27:42.089 --> 27:45.040 moment , this moment of profound 27:45.050 --> 27:46.939 challenge for democracy in Africa 27:48.489 --> 27:50.378 across the continent . We've seen 27:50.378 --> 27:52.267 Autocrats undermine free and fair 27:52.267 --> 27:54.650 elections and block peaceful 27:54.660 --> 27:58.640 transitions of power . Now , some of 27:58.650 --> 28:00.500 you may know and you heard the 28:00.510 --> 28:04.260 ambassador say I had a brief 41 year 28:04.270 --> 28:06.890 career in the US army uniform . 28:10.060 --> 28:13.540 And every day of those 41 years taught 28:13.550 --> 28:17.250 me the importance of civilian control 28:17.260 --> 28:20.859 of the military . So let me be 28:20.869 --> 28:23.880 blunt when generals 28:23.890 --> 28:27.489 overturn the will of the people and put 28:27.500 --> 28:29.930 their own ambitions above the rule of 28:29.939 --> 28:33.390 law , security suffers and 28:33.400 --> 28:35.500 democracy dies 28:45.219 --> 28:47.810 as a Biden administration strategy for 28:47.819 --> 28:49.869 Sub Saharan African notes 28:51.500 --> 28:53.719 effective legitimate and accountable 28:53.729 --> 28:56.130 militaries and other security forces 28:57.170 --> 29:00.189 are essential to support open 29:00.479 --> 29:04.180 democratic and resilient societies and 29:04.189 --> 29:08.050 to counter destabilizing threats or to 29:08.060 --> 29:11.890 put it more bluntly , militaries exist 29:11.900 --> 29:15.459 to defend their people and not to defy 29:15.469 --> 29:18.790 them . And Africa needs militaries that 29:18.800 --> 29:21.650 serve their citizens and not the other 29:21.660 --> 29:22.660 way around . 29:31.239 --> 29:34.089 And that will remain a core principle 29:34.099 --> 29:35.932 of America's engagement with our 29:35.932 --> 29:39.339 African partners . So we will continue 29:39.349 --> 29:41.516 to invest in professional civilian led 29:41.516 --> 29:44.920 militaries . We will work together to 29:44.930 --> 29:47.589 deepen the norms against toppling 29:47.599 --> 29:50.020 democratic governments . And we will be 29:50.030 --> 29:52.390 candid with our partners when their 29:52.400 --> 29:55.060 security institutions fall short of 29:55.069 --> 29:58.209 those universal standards . You know , 29:58.219 --> 30:01.459 this isn't easy , but it is the 30:01.469 --> 30:05.239 best and shortest path to lasting 30:05.250 --> 30:08.790 peace and prosperity . It is a path 30:08.800 --> 30:10.911 that millions of men and women across 30:10.911 --> 30:14.589 this continent have freely chosen . And 30:14.599 --> 30:17.760 the United States is proud to stand 30:18.150 --> 30:22.030 with all those who seek free open 30:22.329 --> 30:24.496 and democratic governments in Africa . 30:29.880 --> 30:32.213 Ladies and gentlemen , I've been deeply , 30:32.260 --> 30:35.939 deeply moved by the hospitality , 30:36.810 --> 30:39.069 the leadership and the idealism that 30:39.079 --> 30:42.349 I've witnessed this week . I'm also 30:42.359 --> 30:46.140 moved to be here today at a site that 30:46.150 --> 30:49.619 enshrines Angola's past , both the 30:49.630 --> 30:53.560 glory and the grief . You 30:53.569 --> 30:55.869 know , it's very American to believe 30:55.880 --> 30:58.250 that hope can be stronger than history . 30:59.459 --> 31:03.369 But it's also very African . We all 31:03.380 --> 31:05.547 know that the United States and Angola 31:06.310 --> 31:08.643 were first connected by the slave trade . 31:10.380 --> 31:14.150 And four centuries ago , slavers from 31:14.160 --> 31:17.650 far away , put the men and women and 31:17.660 --> 31:21.170 Children of this country into 31:21.180 --> 31:25.060 shackles . People who looked just 31:25.069 --> 31:29.000 like you and me and the horrors 31:29.010 --> 31:32.189 of slavery will always be a part of the 31:32.199 --> 31:35.250 shared history of our two countries and 31:35.260 --> 31:38.969 we must never forget them . And 31:38.979 --> 31:42.800 today our countries are joined in very 31:42.810 --> 31:46.630 different ways and by our shared 31:46.640 --> 31:48.900 dream of a bright future that can help 31:48.910 --> 31:52.869 to heal the agony of the past and 31:52.880 --> 31:56.219 today , the ocean that once carried 31:56.229 --> 31:58.609 desperate and enslaved people from 31:58.619 --> 32:02.449 Angola to America has become a basin 32:02.459 --> 32:06.430 of peaceful cooperation . And 32:06.439 --> 32:09.689 last year , the United States and 32:09.699 --> 32:12.339 Angola were two of the 18 countries 32:12.349 --> 32:14.293 that signed the joint statement on 32:14.293 --> 32:16.619 Atlantic cooperation , declaring our 32:16.630 --> 32:18.800 shared commitment to a vast region of 32:18.810 --> 32:20.869 law , conservation and peace . 32:23.329 --> 32:25.969 We know that the walk to freedom can be 32:25.979 --> 32:29.849 long and no one gets it right 32:29.859 --> 32:33.430 all of the time . You know , I love my 32:33.439 --> 32:35.630 country so much that I fought for it . 32:37.930 --> 32:41.339 But , but America isn't trying to cover 32:41.349 --> 32:44.060 up for our imperfections when a 32:44.069 --> 32:47.319 democracy falls short when it falls 32:47.329 --> 32:49.989 short of its best traditions . As we 32:50.000 --> 32:53.849 all sometimes do , the whole world gets 32:53.859 --> 32:57.630 to see it . But that's not the point . 32:58.930 --> 33:01.469 The genius of a democracy is not that 33:01.479 --> 33:04.219 it's perfect . The genius of a 33:04.229 --> 33:07.339 democracy is that it can always open up 33:07.349 --> 33:09.571 space for it to let its citizens strive 33:09.571 --> 33:13.329 to live the universal values of freedom 33:13.339 --> 33:15.506 and self government and human rights . 33:17.000 --> 33:20.239 And the genius of a democracy 33:21.119 --> 33:24.050 is that it is always a work in progress 33:25.589 --> 33:29.310 and that's personal for me . I am a 33:29.319 --> 33:32.660 child of America's segregated South . 33:33.900 --> 33:36.670 I grew up in a time of legalized and 33:36.680 --> 33:38.989 racist segregation in America . 33:40.630 --> 33:43.800 And I stand here today in Africa 33:44.719 --> 33:48.609 as America's first black Secretary of 33:48.619 --> 33:49.310 Defense . 34:10.428 --> 34:13.358 So I believe with all my soul 34:14.540 --> 34:16.373 in the progress that we can make 34:16.373 --> 34:19.709 together . I've seen 34:19.719 --> 34:22.239 institutions move from discrimination 34:22.250 --> 34:26.000 to democracy . I've seen leaders 34:26.010 --> 34:28.219 learn powerful lessons from the tragic 34:28.229 --> 34:32.079 past and I've seen democracy 34:32.089 --> 34:36.089 become a mighty engine for its own 34:36.099 --> 34:39.500 renewal . Now , my 34:39.510 --> 34:42.280 story is not your story 34:43.699 --> 34:46.719 in my country's journey is not your 34:46.729 --> 34:49.729 country's journey . But I , I believe 34:49.739 --> 34:52.628 to my core that our dreams are shared 34:52.638 --> 34:54.229 and our futures are linked 34:58.439 --> 35:01.540 in 1966 . One of my 35:01.550 --> 35:04.300 heroes , Robert F Kennedy traveled to 35:04.310 --> 35:07.350 Cape Town some 2000 miles south of here 35:08.760 --> 35:12.409 and he said , nations 35:12.479 --> 35:16.290 like men often march to the beat 35:16.300 --> 35:19.889 of different drummers . And the 35:19.899 --> 35:22.066 precise solutions of the United States 35:22.066 --> 35:24.479 can neither be dictated nor 35:24.489 --> 35:28.419 transplanted to others . But what is 35:28.429 --> 35:32.270 important is that all nations must 35:32.280 --> 35:35.489 march toward increasing freedom and 35:35.500 --> 35:37.909 toward justice for all and toward a 35:37.919 --> 35:40.949 society , strong and flexible enough to 35:40.959 --> 35:43.181 meet the demands of all of its people , 35:43.669 --> 35:47.100 whatever their race and the demands of 35:47.110 --> 35:50.250 the world of immense and dizzying 35:50.260 --> 35:52.729 change that face us all . 35:55.929 --> 35:58.096 Now , ever since Senator Kennedy spoke 35:58.096 --> 36:01.899 those words , the immense and dizzying 36:01.909 --> 36:05.530 change that he described has only sped 36:05.540 --> 36:09.199 up and there is one clear way 36:10.020 --> 36:12.929 to confront that change and that is 36:12.939 --> 36:16.469 together . So in the years ahead , 36:16.979 --> 36:20.800 let us stand together as equal partners . 36:21.739 --> 36:23.929 Let us work together on the great 36:23.939 --> 36:27.199 security challenges of our times and 36:27.209 --> 36:30.129 let us march together toward increasing 36:30.139 --> 36:33.000 freedom and justice for all . 36:34.580 --> 36:37.120 Thank you very much and many , many 36:37.129 --> 36:39.290 thanks for your tremendous hospitality .