U.S.-South Africa diplomatic relations at a low point as President Biden meets with President Ramaphosa
U.S. President Joe Biden welcomed South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa to the Oval Office at the White House in Washington on September 16, 2022, as the two countries grapple with a series of diplomatic disputes.
The latest friction in the relationship comes after the U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby referred to a lawsuit against South Africa as “meritless, counterproductive, and completely without any basis in fact whatsoever,” while Israel dismissed it as “blood libel.”
Tensions have been simmering between the two countries for some time, with the U.S. expressing concerns over South Africa’s perceived closeness to Russia and China. In May 2023, U.S. Ambassador Reuben Brigety accused South Africa of running guns for Russia via a mystery merchant ship, an allegation that a South African inquiry found no evidence of. Prior to that, the U.S. had criticized South Africa for its policy of non-alignment in the Ukraine conflict, with Washington interpreting it as favoring Russia.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has fiercely refuted these suggestions, with his government clarifying that it does not support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, these disagreements have contributed to the deterioration of the U.S.-South Africa relationship, according to Chris Vandome, a senior research fellow at Chatham House’s Africa Programme.
The situation is further complicated by South Africa’s close relationship with Russia, rooted in the USSR’s historical anti-apartheid support, as well as the country’s solidarity with Palestinian territories against apartheid oppression. These factors have raised concerns about the impact on South Africa’s trade relations with the U.S., particularly under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
Enacted in 2000, AGOA provides duty-free access to the U.S. market for over 1,800 products across 32 eligible countries. However, it requires countries to meet eligibility requirements related to their economic policies, human rights, and elimination of trade barriers.
The diplomatic disputes are also expected to have political implications in South Africa, where the ANC faces a significant challenge in the upcoming elections. The Israel-Gaza divide could complicate coalition discussions and party funding, potentially impacting the country’s political landscape.
As President Biden and President Ramaphosa met in Washington, the discussions between the two leaders carry significant weight in determining the trajectory of the U.S.-South Africa relationship in the coming months.