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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed a desire to negotiate with U.S. President Donald Trump to address rising tensions over land reform policies and South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). At a Goldman Sachs conference in Johannesburg on Thursday, Ramaphosa indicated his readiness to engage with the U.S. despite recent challenges in their bilateral relations.
The dispute intensified earlier this month when Trump issued an executive order reducing U.S. financial aid to South Africa, citing the country’s land reform approach and its ICJ case against Israel—one of America’s key allies—as reasons for the cut. This decision has further complicated diplomatic relations.
While speaking to business leaders, Ramaphosa highlighted the importance of allowing tensions to subside before directly engaging with the U.S. government. He stressed South Africa’s eagerness to mend ties, stating, “We don’t want to go and explain ourselves. We want to do a meaningful deal with the United States on a variety of issues.” He also conveyed a positive outlook towards fostering a good relationship with President Trump.
Ramaphosa did not outline specific details of a potential deal but indicated it could involve trade, diplomatic collaboration, and broader political agreements. Analysts suggest that South Africa may aim to safeguard its preferential trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which offers duty-free access to select African exports. Given Trump’s unpredictable approach to international agreements, there are concerns that South Africa’s AGOA status might be jeopardised.
Although not heavily dependent on U.S. aid, South Africa is under increasing diplomatic pressure due to its non-aligned position in global conflicts. The country has tried to maintain balanced relationships with major powers like the U.S., China, and Russia without fully aligning with any geopolitical bloc. However, Washington views Pretoria’s ICJ case against Israel as a challenge to its interests, with Trump citing it as evidence of South Africa’s opposition to U.S. and allied positions.
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The implications of Trump’s executive order are still uncertain, but Ramaphosa’s openness to negotiations indicates Pretoria’s desire to avert deeper economic or diplomatic repercussions. Whether Trump will be receptive to these discussions remains unclear, yet as global tensions rise, South Africa is carefully navigating its foreign policy landscape.
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