The US has warned of consequences for countries that engage in business with Russia.
“I would caution that countries should not engage with countries that have been sanctioned by the US,” US representative to the UN, ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in response to a question by Business Day on Tuesday.
She was speaking from Washington, DC on a Zoom briefing ahead of her tour to Ghana, Uganda and Cape Verde, where, she said, her main goal would be to listen and “discuss our mutual priorities”.
Thomas-Greenfield said the US department of treasury would have the details on “the impact that those relationships [with Russia] will have”.
She said: “Our sanctions on Russia are intended to discourage the Russians from continuing its aggression on Ukraine.”
I would caution that countries should not engage with countries that have been sanctioned by the US.
— UN ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield
Thomas-Greenfield said the US wanted to work with African countries going forward to address the food-security crisis. She said Russia and Ukraine are two major exporters of grain, and this has been disrupted by the war.
“We are not asking countries to make choices between Ukraine and Russia,” she said, but stressed that this was not a war between Russia and the US as Russia has been claiming.
“Russia attacked Ukraine. Russia started this war,” she said.
She also said she would have discussions about issues of security, particularly with Ghanaian president Nana Akufo-Addo. The US has been concerned about the support Mali has requested from Russian private military-group Wagner in its battle against terrorism.
Uncertainty about ‘what is next’
South African leaders have been expressing concerns that Russia would put the squeeze on SA, because SA assumed a “neutral” stance on the conflict during votes on UN resolutions.
Almost half of all AU member states have either remained neutral or voted in support of Russia.
International relations and co-operation minister Naledi Pandor on Monday told a seminar marking the release of a framework document on SA’s national interest that there was uncertainty among her officials “of what is next” in international developments, particularly with reference to the war in Ukraine.
She said the US House of Representatives took the “unprecedented action” of adopting a draft bill “intended to punish countries in Africa that have not toed the line on the Russia-Ukraine war”.
This was with reference to the Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act, which was passed by the House of Representatives at the end of April with an overwhelming majority.
She said African countries had a right to “exercise their sovereign rights” in this regard.
Social development minister Lindiwe Zulu, speaking as the ANC’s head of international relations, last week also expressed concern about the US extending its sanctions to companies and countries that continue to do business with Russia.
Her remarks followed days after meetings between a business delegation from the Russian Export Centre JSC (REC) and South African businesspeople.
Thomas-Greenfield’s remarks also come ahead of an expected visit by US secretary of state Anthony Blinken, who is expected to be in SA from 7 to 9 August, followed by visits to the DRC and Rwanda.
US department of state spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement that Blinken will launch the US Strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa during his visit to Pretoria. This strategy “reinforces the US view that African countries are geostrategic players and critical partners on the most pressing issues of our day,” he said.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.