South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is pursuing direct diplomatic engagement with US President Donald Trump following escalating tensions between the two nations. A breakthrough phone call on April 24 resulted in both leaders agreeing to meet “soon” to address their countries’ strained relations, with preparations now at an “advanced stage” according to South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation.
The diplomatic crisis erupted after Trump signed an executive order on February 7 cutting approximately $440 million in US aid to South Africa, citing two main concerns: South Africa’s Expropriation Act signed by Ramaphosa on January 23, 2025, and the country’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
Trump’s accusations that South Africa is “confiscating land” from white people and treating “certain classes of people VERY BADLY” have been strongly rejected by Ramaphosa, who insists the new land reform law is constitutional and doesn’t target any specific racial group. During their recent phone conversation, Ramaphosa reportedly told Trump he was being “misled” by those opposed to transformation in South Africa.
The situation intensified this week with the arrival of the first group of white South Africans granted refugee status by the Trump administration. Approximately 49 Afrikaners landed at Washington Dulles International Airport on May 12, greeted by US officials who claimed they had suffered from “unjust racial discrimination.” This refugee program has been widely criticized both internationally and within South Africa, where even Afrikaner lobby groups like AfriForum initially distanced themselves from the initiative.
Ramaphosa’s approach has been to prioritize diplomatic solutions rather than escalation. His administration is preparing to send a delegation to Washington to negotiate on trade and political matters, focusing on clarifying misconceptions about South Africa’s policies. At a recent forum in Ivory Coast, Ramaphosa emphasized that he does not consider the departing Afrikaners to be refugees, stating South Africa continues to be a unified nation despite its diverse population.
The tensions highlight broader geopolitical dynamics, with South Africa’s non-aligned foreign policy position, including its stance on Israel and relations with Russia and China, contributing to the strained US-South Africa relationship. Economic concerns loom large, as South Africa fears losing access to US markets under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which is set to expire in September 2025.
With both leaders now committed to face-to-face dialogue, the upcoming meeting represents a critical opportunity to reset bilateral relations between the two nations and address fundamental misunderstandings about South Africa’s domestic policies.
