South Africa Seeks New Deal With US After Trump’s Criticism
South Africa plans to send a team to the United States to negotiate trade, diplomatic, and political agreements, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Thursday after US President Donald Trump criticised the country’s policies and threatened to cut funding.
Speaking at a G20 event in South Africa, Ramaphosa stated, “We would like to go to the United States to do a deal. We don’t want to go and explain ourselves, we want to go and do a meaningful deal with the United States on a whole range of issues.”
OSUN DEFENDER reported that Trump had accused South Africa of “confiscating” land from white farmers in response to a new law allowing property expropriation without compensation in certain cases.
The law aims to address historical inequalities in land ownership.
Ramaphosa recalled having a “wonderful” call with Trump after he assumed office in January but admitted relations later deteriorated.
The absence of US foreign and finance ministers from the recent G20 meetings in South Africa further highlighted tensions.
With the US being South Africa’s second-largest trading partner and set to assume the G20 presidency next year, Ramaphosa emphasised the need for a comprehensive agreement.
“We have got to make a deal of one sort or another on trade issues, on diplomatic issues, on political issues, a whole span of issues,” he said.
“It’s inevitable that we will get together and do a deal.”
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
