2023-06-16 09:05:33
Members of the American Congress demand that the United States take sanctions once morest South Africa, because of its foreign policy vis-à-vis Russia.
The puzzle continues for South Africa. While Cyril Ramaphosa flew to Ukraine, for a “peace mission” that has become a simple “mediation attempt” which should not lead to any improvement in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the South African president has other concerns in mind. Currently thinking regarding a possible relocation of the next BRICS summit, the head of state has sought, in vain, how to welcome Vladimir Putin without angering the International Criminal Court.
Because Pretoria has been trying for several months to remain faithful to its international policy of non-alignment. Much to the chagrin of the United States. American elected officials have just apostrophized Joe Biden. They demand that Washington relocates the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa), which must be held in South Africa. They consider that keeping the summit in Pretoria would represent “an implicit endorsement of South Africa’s damaging support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and possible violation of US sanctions law”.
Worse, elected officials are calling for sanctions once morest South Africa. Including an exclusion from Agoa, which would block access to American markets in Pretoria. The tone is therefore rising between the United States and South Africa. How far? Obviously, it is for Washington to put pressure on Pretoria. Ramaphosa’s trip to Ukraine apparently did not convince the elected members of the American Congress.
Four months following the Africa chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee called for a review of relations between the two countries, everything suggests that Washington will increase its pressure week following week. At least until the BRICS summit next August.
And inevitably, the American sanctions, if there are sanctions, will first affect South Africa’s wallet. Because Agoa is important for Pretoria. Access to the American market will continue if South Africa does not “harm the national security or the foreign policy interests of the United States”, write the elected officials.
The risk of sanctions is not insignificant, for a South Africa in financial difficulties. The US Department of Commerce estimates the amount of goods exported at $2.7 billion in 2021. Excluding South Africa from AGOA would therefore be a real threat to Pretoria. Will Ramaphosa succeed in standing up to Joe Biden? Response in the coming weeks.
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