On February 7, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order freezing aid to South Africa. Trump cites a recent land expropriation law that he and his allies believe discriminates against white farmers.
This decision is not an isolated incident but rather the culmination ofongoing tensions between the United States and South Africa. These tensions have persisted throughout the Biden administration and escalated under Trump’s leadership.
Archynetys delves into the deteriorating relationship between the two nations, exploring the root causes and potential consequences of this diplomatic fallout.
What Did Trump Say While Banning South Africa Aid?
A week prior, on February 2, Trump shared his concerns on Truth Social, asserting that South Africa was confiscating land and treating white farm owners unfairly. He vowed to halt all future funding until a thorough investigation was completed.
The executive order, issued on February 7, claimed that the December land law allowed the government to seize Afrikaaners’ properties without compensation. Trump suggested that these policies and actions foster hatred and violence against racially preferenced landowners.
The following day, Trump took his criticism a step further, stating that South Africa’s actions were “terrible” during a press conference.
In the order, the US also offered to resettle Afrikaaner South Africans, an offer rejected by Afrikaaner groups.
Have Trump Aides Also Attacked South Africa?
Trump’s criticism of South Africa was echoed by his top officials and advisers, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Elon Musk, a South African-born multibillionaire and Trump’s advisor.
On February 3, Musk tweeted a harsh response to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s defense of the land law, questioning its racially discriminatory nature.
Rubio announced on February 14, 2025, that he would skip the G20 summit in Johannesburg, citing South Africa’s land redistribution policy and its alleged stance against US allies like Israel.
South Africa is hosting the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting from February 20-21, adding fuel to the tensions.
What’s the Truth About the Land Law?
South Africa maintains that its land expropriation law is far different from the arbitrary land grabs seen in countries like Zimbabwe. The law requires a constitutional process, compensation in most cases, and attempts to reach a reasonable agreement with landowners.
Land can only be expropriated for public purposes or in the interest of public welfare, such as land reform. Despite apartheid ending over three decades ago, white South Africans still control the majority of the country’s land.
Trump’s insistence that South Africa is engaging in forced land confiscation dates back to his early presidency in 2018 when he erroneously claimed that “large-scale killings” of white farmers were occurring.
Biden’s administration did not resolve these tensions; if anything, they underscored South Africa’s holding ground on issues of racial equity and justice.
Has South Africa’s Position on Israel Affected US Ties?
In early 2024, South Africa’s foreign minister, Naledi Pandor, visited the US to manage the fallout from South Africa’s critical stance toward Israel’s actions in Gaza. The US Congress was considering a bill to penalize South Africa for its strong opposition to Israeli policies.
In December 2023, South Africa accused Israel of genocide and took it to the International Court of Justice. This move alienated some of South Africa’s staunch allies in the US.
The US-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act, introduced in February 2024, alleged that South Africa was aligning itself with “malign actors,” including Hamas, and pursuing closer ties with Iran.
These accusations reflect underlying concerns about South Africa’s diplomatic allegiances and its strategic importance as a democratic stronghold in Africa.
Is South Africa Picking Russia and China Over the US?
The US Congress has increasingly questioned South Africa’s ties with Russia and China. In May 2023, the US ambassador accused South Africa of secretly supplying weapons to Russia via a cargo ship in Cape Town.
An investigation by the South African government concluded in September 2023 that no evidence supported these claims. Ramaphosa emphasized the negative impact of the accusations on South Africa’s economy and reputation.
In February 2023, South Africa, Russia, and China conducted joint military drills in the Indian Ocean, prompting a US response of concern.
South Africa has attempted to balance its strategic relationships, even going so far as to convince Russian President Vladimir Putin not to attend the BRICS summit. Putin is wanted by the International Criminal Court over the Ukraine war.
Despite criticizing Israel, South Africa maintains significant trade ties with the country. In some periods, it was South Africa’s largest supplier of coal to Israel.
What’s at Risk If Relations Decline Further?
South Africa is the US’s largest trading partner in Africa, with $9.3 billion worth of US exports to South Africa in 2022. About 600 American businesses operate there, underlining the economic significance of this relationship.
Strategically, South Africa serves as a democratic bulwark in a region where many nations have slid into authoritarianism.
Conversely, the US is crucial for South Africa’s economy. It is the fourth-largest source of South African imports and the second-biggest market for South African exports, after China.
South Africa’s membership in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) grants it duty-free access to the US market for over 1,800 products. In 2022, South African exports to the US were valued at $11 billion.
The threat of South Africa losing its AGOA status hangs over the relationship, especially as Trump scrutinizes trade agreements he deems unfair to the US.
We invite you to share your thoughts on this complex diplomatic situation. Your insights are valuable as we navigate these international challenges.
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