Tensions Deepen as US Under Trump Administration Marginalizes South Africa
Tensions Deepen as US Under Trump Administration Marginalizes South Africa
Relations between the United States and South Africa have further deteriorated under the Trump administration, with Washington reportedly sidelining South African envoys, boycotting diplomatic meetings, and threatening sweeping tariffs that could worsen the African nation’s economic crisis.
The latest sign of the diplomatic chill emerged after South Africa’s Democratic Alliance (DA) party claimed that the US denied a visa to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s special envoy, Mcebisi Jonas, refusing to recognize him as an official representative.
Jonas, a former deputy finance minister and current chair of MTN, was appointed to mend the fractured ties with the US.
While Ramaphosa’s spokesperson dismissed the DA’s claims as misinformation, there was no outright denial.
The US State Department declined to comment, citing confidentiality regarding visa matters.
The situation reflects a broader pattern of strained relations. Since President Trump assumed office, his administration has cut aid to South Africa, accused its government of targeting white citizens, and condemned its stance on international issues, including its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice and renewed ties with Iran.
Experts suggest Washington has effectively iced South Africa out of high-level diplomatic engagement. “If the DA’s claims are accurate, it fits a broader strategy of isolating South Africa by cutting off key channels of communication,” said Priyal Singh of the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria.
Jonas’s absence from Ramaphosa’s official US delegation and the vacancy left by expelled ambassador Ebrahim Rasool further underscore the breakdown. Rasool had been recalled after accusing Trump of promoting white supremacy in a leaked think-tank speech.
Efforts to rebuild relations through Jonas appear undermined by his own past criticism of Trump, including labeling him a “racist” and “narcissistic right-winger” in a 2020 address remarks that resurfaced following his appointment.
Compounding matters, MTN’s financial stake in IranCell continues to raise red flags for the US, given its adversarial stance toward Iran.
The diplomatic snub has also played out in international forums. US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have both skipped recent G20 meetings in South Africa. Rubio justified his absence by citing Ramaphosa’s government as “anti-American.”
Critics say the Trump administration’s reaction is tied to ideological opposition. Policy analysts argue that South Africa’s progressive positions on climate change, racial equity, and international cooperation clash with Trump’s “America First” agenda.
W. Gyude Moore of the Center for Global Development noted, “South Africa’s policies align with what Trump’s base sees as ‘woke culture.’ That alone makes it a target.”
He added that the US has accused South Africa’s Black Economic Empowerment policy of being discriminatory toward white citizens, despite its aim of redressing apartheid-era inequalities.
The potential fallout could be significant. Trump has threatened to impose 30% tariffs on South African exports starting August 1, a move that could cost the country an estimated 100,000 jobs, according to South African Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago.
The agricultural sector is expected to be the hardest hit an ironic twist, given Trump’s vocal support for Afrikaner farmers and his proposal to offer them asylum in the US.
While South Africa has historically maintained stable ties with both Republican and Democratic US administrations despite policy differences analysts agree the Trump era has presented an unprecedented rupture.
“This administration has taken everyone by surprise,” Singh said. “South Africa will likely need to ride out this storm and look to strengthen ties with other global partners in the meantime.”
