South Africa Successfully Navigates Foreign Policy Tightropes

South Africa has established itself as a leading voice among the countries of the Global South with its adept handling of the foreign policy.

The developing nations, the BRICS Group, held their annual summit last year in South Africa and are set to follow suit in 2025 with the Group of 20 as significant proof that this strategic approach has produced results. Pretoria’s growing global influence is evident.

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decisive actions, such as securing vaccines for Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic and advocating for legal action against Israel at the ICC, have significantly elevated South Africa’s international profile despite its domestic challenges.

However, the US and EU persist in their concerns about South Africa’s deepening ties with China, reluctance to condemn Moscow’s actions in Ukraine, and anti-Israel stance. 

Despite these concerns, there have been no immediate repercussions due to South Africa’s economic importance. US lawmakers are currently reviewing South Africa’s eligibility for preferential access to US markets under AGOA, raising questions about its adherence to human rights and democracy criteria. 

A bipartisan bill aims to extend the trade agreement until 2041 but also calls for scrutiny of South Africa’s alignment with perceived “malign actors” like Israel.

The EU has reaffirmed its partnership with South Africa, the sole African nation with which it maintains a strategic partnership. However, concerns about South Africa’s eligibility under AGOA persist.

South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor, expressed dismay over the proposed legislation in an opinion piece in the Financial Times, describing it as “particularly disconcerting” and emphasizing its potentially detrimental effects on bilateral relations and mutual economic interests.

The State Department acknowledged Congress’s role in shaping US foreign policy and expressed willingness to address concerns raised by certain members. It also emphasized collaboration with both the US and South Africa to navigate a constructive path forward.

Sanusha Naidu, a senior research associate at the Institute of Global Dialogue in Cape Town, highlighted South Africa’s foreign policy objectives, including UN Security Council reform, asserting that it is not inherently anti-vote but rather driven by national interests.