President Cyril Ramaphosa’s upcoming visit to the United States is set to be a pivotal moment in the strained relations between the two countries. Ramaphosa, who departed South Africa on Sunday night, is scheduled to meet with his counterpart, Donald Trump, on Wednesday. This working visit comes after months of tension, which was sparked in February when Trump accused South Africa of seizing land from white farmers under its land expropriation act.
The land expropriation act has been a contentious issue, with white South Africans owning over 70% of the land despite making up only 7% of the population. Trump’s accusations were further fueled by his claim, without evidence, that a genocide of white Afrikaner speakers was taking place in South Africa. In response, the US imposed sanctions on the country, cutting millions of dollars in aid. South Africa has vehemently denied these accusations, setting the stage for a potentially tense meeting between the two leaders.
The agenda for Wednesday’s meeting is expected to be packed, with issues such as trade and tariffs, Ukraine, Gaza, and the G20 summit set to take center stage. Notably, South Africa holds the rotating presidency of the G20, but the US has decided to effectively boycott the event. This move is likely to add to the already strained relations between the two countries.
Another point of contention is South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, which has drawn the ire of Trump. Pretoria has long been a supporter of the Palestinian people and a critic of Israel, and this stance is likely to be a topic of discussion during the meeting. With so many pressing issues on the table, the outcome of this meeting is uncertain, but one thing is clear: the relationship between the US and South Africa is at a crossroads, and the next few days will be crucial in determining the future of their diplomatic ties.
