Record from Protocol No. 147 of the Meeting of the Politburo of the CC CPSU, Supplying Arms to Angola

No. P147/84

To comrades Gorbachev, Ryzhkov, Zaikov, Shevardnadze, Yakov, Yazov, Baklanov, Belousov I., Kriuchkov, Katushev, Falin.

Record from protocol No. 147 of the meeting of the Politburo of the CC CPSU of

7 February 1989

On the issue of compensation through supplies of arms to the Republic of Cuba from the Soviet Union which can be provided by Cuban troops in the People’s Republic of Angola.

1. Agree with the proposal put forward in the report by coms. E.A. Shevardnadze, D.T. Yazov, Kriuchkov, K.F. Katushev of 31 January 1989 on this issue (attached).

2. To confirm the text of the instructions to Soviet ambassadors in the People’s Republic of Angola and the Republic of Cuba (attached).

SECRETARY OF THE CC

[Attachment 1]

Completely secret

CC CPSU

On the issue of compensation through supplies of arms to the Republic of Cuba from the Soviet Union which can be provided by Cuban troops in the People’s Republic of Angola.

The President of the People’s Republic of Angola, José Eduardo dos Santos appealed to the General Secretary of the CC CPSU, comrade M.S. Gorbachev, with a request for compensation by supplies of arms from the Soviet Union to the Republic of Cuba, which can be provided during the withdrawal of Cuban troops from the People’s Republic of Angola.  

José Eduardo dos Santos also sent M.S. Gorbachev a message with which he delivered a request for additional supplies of arms, military supplies and military materiel to Angola in the course of conversations in Moscow in October, 1988.  

During the period of cooperation from 1976, the Soviet Union delivered arms and military materiel worth over 3.7 billion rubles to Angola.  This permitted the national armed forces, in cooperation with Cuban troops, (who are armed with over 1000 tanks, 20 military infantry vehicles, over 500 artillery pieces and reactive installations, 70 anti-aircraft missiles complexes and 44 battle aircraft) to resolve the talks of guaranteeing independence and territorial integrity to Angola.

Before the end of the current five-year period, Angola is due by signed agreements to be supplied with 65 tanks, 18 artillery pieces, 150 portable anti-aircraft complexes, 12 battle aircraft, 5 helicopters, military supplies and other property valued at about 600 million rubles.

At the same time, additional measures are needed to avert a weakening of Angola’s defense capabilities because of the withdrawal of Cuban troops from the country.

In connection with this, it is proposed that tripartite (USSR, Cuba, Angola) consultations be carried out in Moscow in February and March of 1989 on the issue of the Cubans’ also transferring compensation to Angola through supplies of arms and military materiel [to be given] to Cuba from the USSR.  In doing so, to operate insofar as possible on the basis of the said partial compensation.

In consideration of the results of the consultation, to make a decision as well on additional supplies of arms and military materiel to Angola in connection with José Eduardo dos Santos’s  request, and to present the proposal in the established form.

E. Shevardnadze           A. Yakovlev           D. Yazov           V. Kriuchkov           K. Katushev

31 January 1989

No. 318/3/3-00144

[Attachment 2]

Completely secret

LUANDA

SOVIET AMBASSADOR

Visit the President of Angola, José Eduardo dos Santos or another person appointed to receive you, together with the chief military adviser, and referring to your errand, state the following:

The requests for compensation through supplies of arms from the Soviet Union to Cuba which can be provided by Cuban troops upon their withdrawal from Angola, as well as for additional supplies of arms, military supplies and military materiel to Angola, have been attentively studied by the Soviet government.

In our opinion, it would be expedient to conduct tripartite (USSR, Angola, Cuba) consultations in Moscow in February and March of 1989 on the issue of the Cubans’ also transferring compensation to Angola through supplies of arms and military materiel [to be given] to Cuba from the USSR. In consideration of the results of the consultation, to make a decision as well on additional supplies of arms and military materiel to Angola in connection with José Eduardo dos Santos’s  request.

The concrete scheduling and level of consultation could be fixed according to the mutual agreement of all sides.

Telegraph your completion [of this task].

[Attachment 3]

Completely secret

HAVANA

SOVIET AMBASSADOR

Visit the First Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Cuba, F. Castro, or another person appointed to receive you, together with the Chief military adviser, and referring to your errand, state the following:

The President of Angola, José Eduardo dos Santos, made a request for compensation through supplies of arms from the Soviet Union to Cuba, which would be provided by Cuban troops at their withdrawal from Angola.

The request has been studied attentively by the Soviet government.

In our opinion, it would be expedient to conduct tripartite (USSR, Angola, Cuba) consultations in Moscow in February and March of 1989 on the issue of the Cubans’ also transferring compensation to Angola through supplies of arms and military materiel [to be given] to Cuba from the USSR. In consideration of the results of the consultation, to make a decision as well on additional supplies of arms and military materiel to Angola in connection with José Eduardo dos Santos’s  request.

The concrete scheduling and level of consultation could be fixed according to the mutual agreement of all sides.

Telegraph your completion [of this task].