Skip to content

1975

Meeting Transcript, Kissinger and Brezhnev Discuss Angola in Moscow

This document was made possible with support from Leon Levy Foundation

Brezhnev: Dr Kissinger, you know what’s here? A map of our attack on the United States. (He shows the map on the wall behind the curtain.

 

Kissinger: Of course. From Angola! [Laughter].

 

Brezhnev: Don’t mention that word to me. We have nothing to do with that country. I cannot talk about that country.

 

[Brezhnev then moved away and Gromyko and Amb. Stoessel came up to talk with the Secretary].

 

Kissinger: The Cubans were in Angola before the South Africans entered. We asked you a question: if the South Africans withdrew, would the Cubans withdraw?

 

Gromyko: We have nothing to do with that, We have given some equipment to the legitimate government—that’s all.

 

Kissinger: You transport the Cubans in your planes. They are chartered Soviet planes.

 

Gromyko: What planes are you talking about? The ones which transported equipment? We have sent no troops.

 

Amb. Stoessel: No, the Soviet planes used to transport Cuban troops to Angola.

 

Gromyko: (avoiding a direct answer) The South Africans are still there. They make no move to leave.

 

Kissinger: The South Africans are in the process of withdrawing.

 

Gromyko: If this is announced, we will react to it.

 

Kissinger: I wish to tell you in all seriousness that we can never accept 8,000 Cuban troops in Angola.

 

[As the meeting closes, Kissinger makes one last effort to put Angola on the table; he even makes threats, but Brezhnev does not take the bait].

 

Kissinger questions Brezhnev about Cuban involvement in Angola and asks if the Cubans will withdraw if the South Africans do. Brezhnev gives no definitive answers.


Document Information

Source

Kissinger Transcripts, Item 10: Discussion in Moscow, National Security Archive. Included in "Southern Africa in the Cold War, Post-1974," edited by Sue Onslow and Anna-Mart Van Wyk.

Rights

The History and Public Policy Program welcomes reuse of Digital Archive materials for research and educational purposes. Some documents may be subject to copyright, which is retained by the rights holders in accordance with US and international copyright laws. When possible, rights holders have been contacted for permission to reproduce their materials.

To enquire about this document's rights status or request permission for commercial use, please contact the History and Public Policy Program at [email protected].

Original Uploaded Date

2013-10-08

Type

Minutes of Conversation

Language

Record ID

118165

Donors

Leon Levy Foundation