From BAD to WORSE for US-SA relations in 2025
Retirement of top American diplomat in South Africa doesn’t bode well for continued US-SA relations in 2025 …
If US-SA relations in 2025 weren’t shaky enough already, America’s top diplomat in South Africa is retiring. The US Embassy confirmed late last week that Dana Brown, officially the US Mission Chargé d’Affaires in South Africa, is retiring after 27 years, reports IOL. The Chargé d’Affaires is the head of a diplomatic mission in a foreign country. Mr. David Greene, the current Deputy Chief of Mission in Nigeria will be Brown’s replacement.
However, many believe this is not coincidental amidst the deterioration of US-SA relations in 2025. Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa and other heads of state have co-published a controversial article in Foreign Policy Magazine. In it, Ramaphosa and leaders from Malaysia, Colombia, Bolivia and Namibia decried Israel’s war in Gaza. They called it an assault on the people of Palestine and promised severe action against Israeli leaders. Experts believe the article will worsen already precarious US-SA relations in 2025.
US-SA RELATIONS IN 2025
Back in February, Trump signed an executive order titled ‘Addressing egregious actions of the Republic of South Africa’ over land expropriation. Not long thereafter, Trump froze all United States aid to South Africa over perceived rights violations stemming from the ‘terrible things’ happening in the country.
Tragically, this deterioration of US-SA relations in 2025 has put an end to USAID funding for HIV organisations in South Africa. $400 million of annual funding for the country’s longstanding AIDS prevention and treatment programme ceased immediately. Perhaps understandably, Brown’s resignation in South Africa has been tied to this quick-shifting landscape of US-SA relations in 2025.
THE END OF TRADE BENEFITS?
Furthermore, four top US Congressmen – Andrew Ogles, Tom Tiffany, Joe Wilson, and Don Bacon have all urged Trump to revoke South Africa’s trade benefits and suspend diplomatic ties. This will be disastrous for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) which aids numerous South African industries, specifically automotive manufacturing, reports BusinessTech.
Moreover, the United States and Europe are South Africa’s biggest foreign investors. So, losing AGOA could be potentially suicidal for the country’s economy. In the article economists say President Donald Trump is the most powerful man in the world and is in charge of the biggest economy in the world. Therefore, whatever he says or does – no matter how ill-conceived – will have a huge impact on markets all around the world. The sooner South Africa recognises this the better …
CAN SOUTH AFRICA AFFORD TO PLAY GAMES WITH TRUMP?
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