“Russia has argued before all African countries that the U. S. and Western powers are colonialists whose interests are in line with theirs, while Russia and China are benefactors and friends in the world,” Doran said.
“The fact is that Russia is the worst colonial force of the 20th century. Russia has concealed this and is presenting this component of its story to South Africa, and many African countries, especially South Africa, have fallen into the trap of Russian propaganda. about colonialism,” he added.
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Congress passed the Bilateral Relations Review Act in February, which obligates President Biden to “whether South Africa has engaged in activities that are detrimental to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States” within 30 days of its enactment. John James, R-Mich. , introduced the bill after expressing “great fear about South Africa’s alignment with China and Russia and the Hamas club. “
“It’s to show other South Africans that the United States is paying attention and I’m proud that the committee passed this bipartisan legislation,” James said.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa waves as he walks past Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit in Osaka on June 28, 2019. (Tomohiro Ohsumi/AFP via Getty Images)
The bill also requires the government to “thoroughly review bilateral relations between the United States and South Africa and report to Congress on its findings within 120 days of its enactment. “
South Africa has aligned itself with Russia and China, strengthening its agreement with the BRICS economic bloc: the five founding members, plus South Africa, met in Johannesburg last year for the group’s 15th summit, where they discussed and agreed to expand membership.
“The fundamental thing about the expansion of the BRICS is that a multipolar world is emerging,” Dr. Kinglsey Makhubela, former ambassador to South Africa, told Sputnik Africa. “There is no longer this unipolar world ruled by the United States and its allies. “
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STREET. ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA – JULY 29 (RUSSIA OUT) Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) greets South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (L) at their bilateral meeting, July 29, 2023, in St. Petersburg, Russia. President Putin hosted only 17 African leaders at this year’s summit, down from 43 in 2019 who attended the Russia-Africa summit. Discussions focused on food security and the war in Ukraine. (Contributor photo/Getty Images)
However, it appears that it has basically been the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party that has pursued this policy, with the opposition party describing the recent stopover in South Africa through South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor, as an “abject failure”. “.
Speaking with a forked tongue while in Washington, the minister defended South Africa’s friendship with oppressive regimes such as Iran and Russia, under the auspices of her government’s commitment to “non-alignment,” while insisting that the country had a “moral obligation. “act against injustice at the ICJ,” Shadow Minister of International Relations Emma Louise Powell told Fox News Digital.
“The fact is that Pandor’s foreign policy positions are not yet guided by the monetary and political survival of the ANC,” Powell argued, arguing that “the bottom line is that no one buys what Pandor and Ramaphosa are promoting anymore. “
TEHRAN, IRAN – OCTOBER 22: South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor (left) and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (right) meet at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran, Iran, on October 22. 2023. (Photo by Haydar Sahin/Anadolu Getty Images)
“As the official opposition in South Africa, we have only one task to do: to force the corrupt ANC out of the force in May’s elections, so that we can regain the acceptance of our key vital foreign allies and rebuild tense industrial relations. “We are committed to our Western partners (such as the United States), whose investments in our emerging market are feeding millions of South Africans,” Powell said.
The widening rift between the U. S. and South Africa has become more obvious as all sides have been pitted against opposing sides in the Israel-Hamas conflict: South Africa has led proceedings before the International Court of Justice that accused Israel of perpetrating genocide in the Gaza Strip. while the United States has rejected the allegations.
Lior Haiat, a spokesman for Israel’s Foreign Ministry, accused South Africa of acting as “the legal arm of Hamas in an attempt to undermine Israel’s inherent right to protect itself, its citizens and all hostages. “
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A man brandishes a reproduction of a toy gun at a pro-Palestinian protest organized by South Africa’s opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party outside the Israeli embassy in Pretoria, Oct. 23, 2023. (Marco Longari/AFP via Getty Images)
On March 10, Foreign Minister Pandor said the government would arrest all South Africans fighting alongside the Israeli army and warned: “We are ready. When you get home, we’ll arrest you. ” He also suggested citizens protest in front of the embassies of the “top five supporters of Israel,” according to FDD.
“From a global perspective, the war in Ukraine has revealed a shift in foreign policy,” Doran argued. “In the old days, before 2022, before 2022, countries could just be left undecided — they could have it both ways. “Look at India, the example of a country that has both, that is on both sides. Shutting down a legal environment.
“Today, we are no longer in a permissible environment where countries can be undecided and have anything. Now is surely the time to choose,” Doran said.
South Africa’s ambassador to the Netherlands, Vusimuzi Madonsela (right), attends the International Court of Justice hearings on Israeli movements in the Palestinian territories in The Hague, Netherlands, on Feb. 20, 2024. (Nikos Oikonomou/Anadolu Getty Images)
A U. S. State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the two countries maintain a “strong relationship” based on “the priorities of the American people and South Africa,” and that the industry develops every year, making South Africa the “Second largest country. ” Bilateral trading partner.
However, the State Department accused South Africa of falling into the trap of Russian propaganda and influence and warned all African countries to remain vigilant about China’s interests and proposals.
“The U. S. does not intend to restrict African partnerships with other countries,” the spokesman insisted. “However, Russia. . . It manufactures and exploits a lack of trust to expand its presence on the African continent, threatening stability and smart governance, depriving countries of their mineral wealth and thus undermining respect for human rights.
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“At the end of the day, we have a strong relationship with South Africa, and because we have a strong relationship, we’ve had open and frank conversations about all of those issues and priorities,” the spokesperson said, adding that the U. S. echoed “long-standing calls. “that the People’s Republic of China will have to respect the legislation of the host country and its external obligations. ‘
People on a yacht, right, protest against the Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov docked in the port of Cape Town in South Africa, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, heading for South Africa’s east coast for naval drills with the South Africans and China. The training is scheduled to begin on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, a demonstration of the close ties between the two countries amid Russia’s war in Ukraine and tension between China and the West. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht) ((AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht))
Part of the challenge comes from South Africa’s economic woes: Cape Town, already suffering from the global unemployment rate, announced in February that unemployment had reached 32. 1% in the fourth quarter of 2023, with a total of 7. 9 million unemployed.
The International Monetary Fund reported in 2023 that South Africa recorded “weak growth” of around 0. 4% between January and March, citing “crippling force cuts, commodity value volatility, and a challenging external environment” as significant contributing factors.
People gather outside the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, on Jan. 26, 2024, as ICJ regulations on South Africa’s charges oppose Israel. (Nikos Oikonomou/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“The country is facing repeated blackouts after years of mismanagement by state-owned power company Eskom, prompting the government to initiate the registration procedure and allowing power-building needs to inspire investment in the personnel sector,” the IMF wrote, adding that “a debt high – one of the highest among emerging markets – is restricting the government’s ability to respond to shocks. “
South Africa has also shown solidarity with Russia and China by refraining from condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and blaming NATO for provoking the conflict. The country also hosted Russian and Chinese naval forces for training to mark the anniversary of the invasion.
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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa also defended Iran, long known as a sponsor of Hamas, as well as some two dozen Islamic extremist outfits, calling Iran a “true and trustworthy friend. “Iran has also sought to join the BRICS as one of the countries that helped nearly double the group’s club in the first of several planned expansions.
South Africa’s Department of Foreign Affairs responded to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Peter Aitken is a reporter for Fox News Digital who focuses on national news.