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<\/a>President Cyril Ramaphosa\u2019s attack on the United States can have severe consequences for South Africa, including sanctions against Americans holding South African government debt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Tuesday, 25 February 2025, President Cyril Ramaphosa and others published an article in Foreign Policy Magazine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His co-authors were Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Colombia President Gustavo Petro, and Hague Group Chair Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Hague Group is a coalition between South Africa, Bolivia, Colombia, Honduras, and Namibia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The article focuses heavily on Israel\u2019s war in Gaza, calling it an assault against the Palestinian people, echoing dark chapters in their own countries\u2019 histories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ramaphosa promised severe action against Israel and its leaders, including arresting Israeli leaders and preventing vessels carrying military supplies to Israel from using South Africca\u2019s ports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The authors also took aim at United States President Donald Trump, saying his proposal to \u2018take over\u2019 Gaza strikes at the very foundations of international law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They argued that it meant \u201cannexation followed by ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian population, who Trump has suggested should be deported to Egypt and Jordan\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSuch actions, if pursued, would constitute a grave violation of international law and the fundamental principles enshrined in the UN Charter,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This article will further increase tensions between South Africa and the United States and deteriorate the relationship further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In February, Trump froze all United States aid to South Africa over rights violations stemming from the new land expropriation law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The impact will primarily affect the more than $400 million annual funding for the country\u2019s longstanding AIDS prevention and treatment program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After Ramaphosa\u2019s article on 25 February 2025, Trump ordered an immediate end to USAID funding for HIV organisations in South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is not only Trump who is taking a hard line. Four US Congress members \u2013 Andrew Ogles, Tom Tiffany, Joe Wilson, and Don Bacon \u2013 wrote to Trump about South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They urged him to revoke South Africa\u2019s trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and consider suspending diplomatic ties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The members argued that South Africa has repeatedly undermined US interests and violated AGOA\u2019s eligibility requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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