President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday issued one of his strongest public assertions of South Africa’s foreign‑policy independence, declaring the country’s sovereignty “non‑negotiable” during his State of the Nation Address in Cape Town.
Ramaphosa said South Africa “will not be bullied by any other country.”
“In a world where powerful nations often assert their dominance and influence over less powerful states, our country’s commitment to sovereignty and self-determination is sacrosanct. It is not negotiable,” he said.
“We will stand firm on our sovereignty and promote our national interests, values and the rights of our people. We are clear that we will continue to respect the rights and sovereignty of other nations, but we must be equally clear that we will not be bullied by any other country.”
His remarks come at a time of increasingly frosty relations with the United States.
Tensions have grown over Pretoria’s non‑aligned stance on global conflicts, its membership in BRICS and Washington’s accusations – repeatedly denied by South Africa – that there is white genocide in the African country.
The US has also criticised South Africa’s diplomatic posture on Gaza and its decision to pursue a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, moves that have widened the political rift between the two countries.
JN/APA