On the eve of the first visit to South Africa by the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, described by political analysts as a bid to restore relations fractured under the administration of former president Donald Trump, the Department of International Relations and Co-operation (Dirco), has talked up the relationship between the two nations.
Clayson Monyela, the Head of Public Diplomacy at Dirco, said yesterday, Saturday, that South Africa and the United States enjoy historic and cordial relations, saying that the South Africa-United States Strategic Dialogue is a structured bilateral mechanism designed to serve as a platform through which the two countries review the bilateral relationship, consider new areas of co-operation and exchange views on matters of mutual interest. This dialogue had stopped under the Trump administration.
Our relations with the USA are important to us as they are a major export market for South Africa and a significant source of foreign direct investment (FDI), technology transfer, development assistance and tourism. Trade and investment relations take place under the auspices of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which grants duty-free and quota-free access to the United States market for value-added products. AGOA has created jobs in both South Africa and the United States and is thus mutually beneficial,” he said.
Relationships under president Trump were soured after the controversial former US leader cut commitments much to South Africa’s chagrin made by his predecessor president Barack Obama to the Green Climate Fund which was meant to help the continent.
However, this and other decisions affecting the continent have been reversed under President Joe Biden. But many feel that this trust has to be rebuilt, and that the visit is one way of repairing the damage also fuelled by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the only African leader out of 16 turning down an invitation to attend President Biden’s Summit for Democracy last December.
The visit comes amid increasing tension with China and Russia in what the Brookings Institute labels as a charm offensive to build on Blinken’s goal in his last visit in November to Nigeria, Senegal and Kenya to foster closer relations between African countries and the United States.
Source: IOL
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