President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to meet his United States (US) counterpart, Donald Trump, on Wednesday in Washington DC.
The two presidents are scheduled to discuss the restoration of diplomatic and trade relations between their countries. Recently, tensions have increased between the US and South Africa, as Trump has accused the South African government of discriminating against minorities, particularly Afrikaners.
Ramaphosa will be accompanied by four key ministers: Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Ronald Lamola, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, and Trade and Competition Minister Parks Tau.
Political analyst Boitumelo Senokoane says Ramaphosa must be well prepared when meeting Trump on Wednesday.
“As soon as he (Donald Trump) gets the deal that he wants to achieve, he will argue that he was convinced otherwise. He’s not naïve, he’s not a fool, he knows what’s happening on the ground, he knows the history of South Africa. So, it’s not about the Afrikaners, it’s about him bullying the world,” he said as per JacarandaFM.
Ramaphosa to meet Trump on Wednesday
“We can’t be bullied and we should not allowed to be bullied. In fact, I’m of a view that if USA did want anything that has to do with South Africa or its investment, they would have closed the embassy of South Africa. But it’s about that—it’s for them muzzling in front of everyone, proving to everyone that they can be able to do certain things but they operate within certain limits,” Senokoane added.
Ramaphosa will meet Trump at the Oval on Wednesday amid strained diplomatic relations between South Africa and the US.
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