President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa has stated that his country will continue to resist calls to abandon its independent and non-aligned foreign policy.
Mr. Ramaphosa said on Thursday at an Africa Day celebration in Krugersdorp, west of Johannesburg, that the African continent was frequently dragged into conflicts far beyond its borders.
“South Africa has not been and will not be drawn into a global power struggle.” “We will maintain our position on peaceful conflict resolution wherever it occurs,” President Ramaphosa said.
South Africa’s relationship with the United States, a key trading partner, has soured since Pretoria took a non-aligned stance in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
This was exacerbated by recent public statements by Reuben Brigety, the US ambassador to South Africa, that the country had sold arms to Russia. President Ramaphosa agreed to look into the allegations but stated that there was no concrete evidence to back them up.
In his speech on Thursday, President Zuma said countries, including South Africa, were being “threatened with penalties” for pursuing an “independent foreign policy” and taking a non-alignment stance.
However, he did not specify the penalties or who is threatening them.
President Ramaphosa described foreign superpowers conducting “proxy wars on African soil” as “painful memories” for the continent.
South Africa’s government is also under pressure to make a decision on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit later this year.
In connection with the Ukraine conflict, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for him.
