Incoming Trump admin, Congress showdown looms with South Africa over support for Russia, US foes
The new administration may kick South Africa out a lucrative trade agreement.
If the South African government does not alter its position towards Russia, China and Iran, key Republicans will be pressing the new Trump administration to remove South Africa from lucrative trade agreements.
The most at risk are South Africa’s duty free exports of cars and citrus fruits to the U.S. under AGOA, the African Growth and Opportunity Act. This could lead to the loss of tens and thousands of African jobs. South Africa will likely be closely scrutinized by the new administration.
In 2023, a publication by the Center for African Studies at Howard University warned that countries that wanted AGOA’s preferential trading agreements “cannot behave in a way that undermines U.S. foreign policy or national security interests”.
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South Africa is participating in exercises with Russian military aircraft and vessels. This allows the Kremlin to use Pretoria’s bases for warships and approved by Russia. Senior South African officials received training in Moscow. South Africa refused to condemn Russia for its invasion of Ukraine at the United Nations.
South Africa’s ANC majority party met with Hamas terror group, and recently, one branch of ANC supported a Muslim leader in Cape Town who shouted, “I am Hamas! Cape Town is Hamas! Viva Hamas!”. The government issued a press release condemning this year’s killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Ronald Lamola of South Africa’s Foreign Ministry spoke out against this “assassination”. He said that “such extrajudicial killings are in violation of international law.”
South Africa accused Israel of genocide before the International Court of Justice.
China is South Africa’s largest trading partner. Both countries are founding members of BRICS. South Africa welcomed Iran’s inclusion in BRICS. There has been a lot of talk about the deep connections between Pretoria and Tehran.
J. Brooks Spector, a Fox News Digital reporter, said that South Africa’s positions on the Russia/Ukraine conflict and the Mideast conflict are different from the American position in a variety of ways. This is especially true in terms of its aggressive pursuit of Israel and Israel’s leaders before international courts.
Spector, former U.S. Diplomat now based in Johannesburg and deputy editor of respected Daily Maverick added that “continuing actions and rhetoric by South Africa to pursue Israel in international courts efforts will encourage Republicans in Congress and probably also in the administration to strip South Africa from benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act if the act is renewed in 2011.
The South African government’s pursuit of such goals may lead it to reduce its support for important programs like PEPFAR – the aid program which, along with the Global Fund, local organizations and other partners, has played a crucial role in the success of the country’s efforts against HIV and AIDS.
Jim Risch, a leading Republican from Idaho and ranking member of Senate Foreign Relations Committee told Fox News Digital that he was concerned by South Africa’s attempts to warm up to Russia and China, as well as Iran and its terror proxy, and how this would impact U.S. security, a key element of AGOA eligibility. My oversight efforts will continue to be focused on the country’s foreign policies.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), ranking member of Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa, and member of Senate Finance Committee, attacked South Africa 2023: “South Africa harbored sanctions against Russian ships, expanded its relations with Iran, and issued statements opposing Israel’s right of self defense following Hamas recent terror attacks.”
Scott’s staff told Fox News Digital that “Sen. Scott is looking forward to working closely with the Trump Administration to ensure AGOA participants do not undermine our national security.
Washington is very much on South Africa. Richard Goldberg, a Fox News Digital reporter from the Beltway, told Fox News Digital that he is concerned about potential links between South Africa’s and Iran. Goldberg was a member of the National Security Council and is now a senior advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. He said to Fox: “The first thing is to make the case public and give South Africa a last chance to choose.” We should declassify information about South Africa’s deep relationship to Iran and any other support for or partnership with terrorist organizations.
Goldberg added, “We need to use all of our diplomatic and economic power to force Pretoria into a choice between the United States or our terrorist enemies.” AGOA is just one item on the policy menu.
The Department of International Relations of South Africa did not respond to multiple requests for comments. Matthew Parks, COSATU’s Parliamentary Coordinator, did. COSATU, the Confederation of South African Trade Unions is historically aligned to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s ANC. Parks’s dignified and meaningful pursuit of workers’ rights has earned him a high level of respect. If South Africa leaves AGOA, his members could lose their jobs and much more. He appeared cautiously optimistic in a Fox News Digital interview: “We are confident our relations with the U.S., including through AGOA will continue to grow. Simply because it’s to the benefit for both our peoples.”
Parks added, “We have been involved in extensive engagements between South Africa & the U.S. on how to strengthen our relationship and renew AGOA.” We’ve had extensive engagements with our colleagues from the U.S. business community, labor movement, Congress (both Republicans & Democrats), State Department, Department of Labor and White House.
Ebrahim Rassool, the South African ambassador in the U.S. will begin his second term just as Trump takes the White House. He spoke to the Daily Maverick this month about South Africa’s difficulties with the new administration. He was referring to South Africa’s attack against Israel at the ICJ. He said: “We will stand by our case, but now let’s trust our legal team, and trust the evidence we’ve presented to the judges at the ICJ. Trust the judges to reach a just, sustainable solution – we must put the megaphone away now.”
Rassool emphasized that the South African oranges are a expo
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