It is time for a more constructive dialogue with the USA

Recently, the relationship between U.S. President Donald Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has been in decline.

Experts note that some of the President’s decisions may impact South Africa’s standing on the international scene.

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Within this context, we should pay attention to the recent speech given by South Africa’s Ambassador to the USA, Ebrahim Rasool, during a webinar organized by the MISTRA research institute in Johannesburg.

In his speech, he made statements about the “instinct of supremacy” in Trump’s administration and claimed that “white people in the USA will soon stop being the majority.”

Rasool also expressed views on Elon Musk and his collaboration with far-right figures in Europe, describing it as a “warning signal.”

In response to these remarks, U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, accused Rasool of reflecting racist views and dissatisfaction with American policy.

As a result, Rasool was declared persona non grata and left the country.

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Our complicated relations with the USA may get even more complicated with the appointment of Leo Brent Bozell III as the new U.S. Ambassador to South Africa.

The politician is known for his critical stance towards President Ramaphosa.

One of the tasks set by Trump for the new Ambassador is likely to be the support of Afrikaners within the context of the passage of the law allowing the expropriation of agricultural property without compensation.

Ramaphosa’s actions in the context of the conflict in Ukraine also raise some confusion.

His attempts to position himself as a peacemaker, for instance, his invitation to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a visit, can be seen as interference in the diplomatic process currently taking place between the USA and Russia.

Moreover, Donald Trump is already playing the role of a peacemaker, tackling this issue of the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine.

To sum up, we need to rethink our ambitions within the world scene and focus on the strategic interests of South Africa. The country is currently facing numerous challenges. It is time for consistent and constructive actions.