Ramaphosa Heads to US to Mend Ties with Trump Amid Trade and Diplomatic Tensions

President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to meet with US President Donald Trump in Washington on May 21, aiming to ease diplomatic tensions and reset relations between South Africa and its second-largest trading partner.

The working visit, scheduled from May 19 to 22, comes at a time of rising strain between the two nations, fueled by controversial accusations from the Trump administration, trade sanctions, and fallout from South Africa’s stance on global conflicts.

A Visit to Reset Relations

According to a statement from the Presidency, the White House meeting will focus on “bilateral, regional, and global issues of interest.” Officials see the visit as a chance to “reset the strategic relationship” between Washington and Pretoria.

South Africa has been facing increasing pressure from the US after President Trump and his influential supporter, Elon Musk, accused the country of enabling a genocide against White Afrikaner farmers—claims that South African officials have firmly denied as baseless and inflammatory.

“There have been no official land seizures since 1994,” said a Presidency spokesperson. “Our constitution protects property rights. The claims are politically motivated and factually incorrect.”

Trade and AGOA Sanctions Take a Toll

The US has frozen most forms of aid to South Africa, imposed tariffs on key exports, and terminated Pretoria’s access to the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)—a move that has dealt a heavy blow to local exporters.

More than 600 American companies operate in South Africa, and the US remains the country’s largest trading partner after China. Ramaphosa’s team is reportedly finalizing a new trade proposal to table during the visit.

Tensions Escalate Over Refugee and Foreign Policy

In a highly unusual move, the US has also begun offering refugee status to members of South African minority groups, with the first arrivals landing in the US on a charter flight this week.

Washington’s anger has also been stoked by South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, accusing the US ally of committing genocide in Gaza, and Pretoria’s growing ties with Iran, another geopolitical flashpoint for the US.

Trump Skips G20 Over Ramaphosa-Led Agenda

The deteriorating relationship has had ripple effects globally. South Africa’s presidency of the G20 has been overshadowed by Trump’s absence from key meetings and his dismissal of the bloc’s agenda, particularly efforts to tackle developing nation debt and climate change.

Originally, Ramaphosa was set to hold a one-on-one with Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada on June 15, but the plan was fast-tracked amid growing urgency to address worsening relations, according to insiders.

A Crucial Diplomatic Test

This trip may prove to be one of Ramaphosa’s most important diplomatic engagements this year. With economic stakes high, human rights issues at the forefront, and global alliances shifting, his meeting with Trump could determine the future of US-South Africa relations—and signal whether diplomacy can prevail over politics.

{Source: MoneyWeb}

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