Johannesburg – A group of US legislators is calling for a US-Africa trade summit planned for later this year to be moved from SA in response to what they said was the country’s “deepening military relationship” with Russia.
In a letter to US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and other senior officials, they also suggested SA is in danger of losing its benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) – Washington’s flagship trade programme.
SA is due to host the Agoa Forum in Johannesburg, a meeting of African leaders and US officials to discuss the future of the programme, which is slated to expire in 2025.
SA’s exports to the US under Agoa reached nearly $1-billion in the first three months of this year, making it the second biggest beneficiary of the programme after Nigeria.
African nations are seeking to extend Agoa , which grants qualifying countries’ exports preferential access to the US
“We are seriously concerned that hosting the 2023 Agoa Forum in SA would serve as an implicit endorsement of SA’s damaging support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” the letter, dated June 9, stated.
Referring to the letter, South African foreign ministry spokesman Clayson Monyela said on Twitter: “There is no decision by the State Department/White House to move the Agoa Forum from SA.”
SA'’s department of trade and industry, which manages the country’s trade relations with the US, said it was not planning to respond publicly to the letter.
SA’s government has declared its neutrality in the war in Ukraine, and President Cyril Ramaphosa is participating in an effort by African leaders to mediate in the conflict.
However, the legislators voiced frustration with SA’s hosting of joint naval operations with China and Russia in February, and plans to hold a summit of Brics leaders where Russian President Vladimir Putin is invited despite being charged with war crimes by the International Criminal Court.
The legislators also appeared to back up an accusation by the US ambassador to SA that a sanctioned Russian vessel collected weapons at a South African naval base last year. South African officials say they are not aware of such an arms transfer and have launched an independent inquiry into the incident.
– Reuters
US lawmakers calls for SA to lose Agoa summit
Joint naval operations with China and Russia also criticised
Image: Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images.
Johannesburg – A group of US legislators is calling for a US-Africa trade summit planned for later this year to be moved from SA in response to what they said was the country’s “deepening military relationship” with Russia.
In a letter to US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and other senior officials, they also suggested SA is in danger of losing its benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) – Washington’s flagship trade programme.
SA is due to host the Agoa Forum in Johannesburg, a meeting of African leaders and US officials to discuss the future of the programme, which is slated to expire in 2025.
SA’s exports to the US under Agoa reached nearly $1-billion in the first three months of this year, making it the second biggest beneficiary of the programme after Nigeria.
African nations are seeking to extend Agoa , which grants qualifying countries’ exports preferential access to the US
“We are seriously concerned that hosting the 2023 Agoa Forum in SA would serve as an implicit endorsement of SA’s damaging support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” the letter, dated June 9, stated.
Referring to the letter, South African foreign ministry spokesman Clayson Monyela said on Twitter: “There is no decision by the State Department/White House to move the Agoa Forum from SA.”
SA'’s department of trade and industry, which manages the country’s trade relations with the US, said it was not planning to respond publicly to the letter.
SA’s government has declared its neutrality in the war in Ukraine, and President Cyril Ramaphosa is participating in an effort by African leaders to mediate in the conflict.
However, the legislators voiced frustration with SA’s hosting of joint naval operations with China and Russia in February, and plans to hold a summit of Brics leaders where Russian President Vladimir Putin is invited despite being charged with war crimes by the International Criminal Court.
The legislators also appeared to back up an accusation by the US ambassador to SA that a sanctioned Russian vessel collected weapons at a South African naval base last year. South African officials say they are not aware of such an arms transfer and have launched an independent inquiry into the incident.
– Reuters
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