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US Embassy in Pretoria
A senior US official in South Africa has resigned with immediate effect, citing opposition to US President Donald Trump’s policies and disagreement with the White House’s approach to South Africa.
The relationship between South Africa and the United States of America started to show cracks under the former US ambassador in South Africa Reuben Brigety. This after he accused Pretoria of arming Russia in the ongoing war in Ukraine. It follows the docking of the Lady R in Simons Town Naval Base in December 2022.
An investigation into the matter found that there was no evidence to substantiate the claim that Lady R transported weapons from South Africa to Russia.
In the latest developments, a senior official has resigned amid the tension between Pretoria and Washington over South Africa’s policies.
However, US officials say the senior official is retiring from the US Foreign Service in March and returning to the US to spend more time with her family.
AfriForum, Solidarity
Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa has lambasted AfriForum and Solidarity for meeting with senior officials from the Trump administration in the White House. The United States is opposed to the Expropriation Act that was recently enacted in the country and against Pretoria’s decision to drag Israel to the International Court of Justice over the untenable situation in Gaza.
US President Donald Trump has also axed aid to South Africa in response to land reform policies. This has also raised fears that the trade deal Africa Growth and Opportunities Act may be next. Under AGOA, South Africa gets tariff-free quotas on agricultural exports, including wine, citrus and other products.
International Relations analyst from Wits University, Professor John Stremlau unpacks SA’s foreign policy in relation to the United States:
