Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky plans to pay SA an official state visit in the next few months as part of his African charm offensive amid a debilitating war with Russia.
International relations & co-operation minister Naledi Pandor said Zelensky indicated his intention to visit SA this year to “establish stronger trade links with SA and also wishes to discuss the nature of the relationship, which he hopes will ensue once the matter of the war has been settled.
“They are very interested in matters of agriculture, given their role in the world within food security ... and in what role they may provide in increasing food security that is African led,” Pandor said in an ANC media briefing on Friday.
Ukraine has been mired in conflict with Russia since 2022 that left 31,000 of its soldiers dead and cost the lives of more than 10,000 of its civilians. Russia invaded Ukraine more than two years ago.
SA’s nonaligned stance between the East European countries coupled with hauling Israel to the International Court of Justice for its war in Gaza have been the source of tension between Pretoria and Washington.
The US and European governments are conducting an intensive campaign to rally African governments to oppose Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
US legislators have become increasingly vocal about their opposition to SA’s foreign policy. The US Congress is now considering a bill sponsored by Republican John James of Michigan that calls for a review of US relations with SA in the light of Pretoria’s alleged closeness with Russia, China and its stance on the war in Gaza.
If passed, the legislation would require US President Joe Biden to review within 30 days whether SA’s foreign policy is in direct conflict with US foreign policy and national security interests.
SA has noted its opposition to the bill, with Pandor recently publishing an opinion piece in the Financial Times warning that the US cannot afford to bring SA to its knees because it would hurt US trade relations with SA and the entire African continent.
“Seeking to bring SA to its knees almost amounts to self-sabotage for the US,” said Pandor, citing SA’s role in the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, and its role as “a gateway to the continent”.
At the media briefing on Friday, Pandor dealt with the possibility of SA losing its beneficiary status under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa), saying: “If we lose Agoa membership, it could have negative ramifications for the US. In the global fight against climate change demand for critical minerals has become a significant factor.
“We cannot afford for the proposed bill to undermine our mutually beneficial relationship.”
Pandor conceded the relationship between SA and US had been weakened, but said it had improved recently.
“Our positions have clearly been understood ... (US) actions (over the war in Gaza) in the past few weeks are actions which SA has been articulating for some time, considering that the US voted in favour of a ceasefire in Gaza and the fact that President Biden said the humanitarian corridors in Gaza must be opened,” she said.
“Palestine is not the only issue; we also have an important trade relationship (with the US).”
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