Africa (Commonwealth Union) _The U.S. State Department describes its relationship with South Africa as “strong,” but there are calls from U.S. congressmen John James and Jared Moskowitz to reassess this partnership. On February 6, a bill was introduced in the House of Representatives to review bilateral ties with South Africa, citing concerns over its military and political cooperation with China and Russia. Additionally, the bill highlights South Africa’s support for Hamas, which the U.S. designates as a terrorist organization. This move reflects growing apprehensions within the U.S. government regarding South Africa’s foreign policy engagements and its alignment with actors perceived as adversaries by the United States.
Rep. John James accuses South Africa of aligning with actors that threaten U.S. national security, particularly in its political and military collaborations. The bill also denounces South Africa’s case against Israel in the International Court of Justice, portraying it as politically motivated. This stance highlights a contentious view regarding the underlying motives behind the legal action taken by South Africa against Israel.
In response, South Africa’s top diplomat, Naledi Pandor, emphasizes the importance of the economic relationship between the two countries, despite differing views on foreign policy matters. She expresses concern over attempts to link South Africa with terrorism and condemns the portrayal of its actions against Israel as wrongful or politically driven.
Vincent Magwenya, spokesman for President Cyril Ramaphosa, asserts that many of the issues raised by U.S. lawmakers have already been addressed through South Africa’s judicial processes and public communication. He points to the recent ICJ ruling on South Africa’s case against Israel as evidence that previous accusations are no longer valid. This recent development underscores a shift in the legal landscape and suggests a potential reassessment of past allegations.
This bill is currently under discussion and has yet to be passed. It follows a similar move by U.S. lawmakers last June, where there were calls to relocate the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum from South Africa due to concerns over its support for Russia’s invasion. However, South Africa maintains that it still enjoys support from the U.S. government for hosting the AGOA meeting.
