On Friday, the president of South Africa promised to work closely with US Vice President Joe Biden on issues related to health, security, and the environment but cautioned against punishing African countries for keeping diplomatic links with Russia.
The Biden administration has shifted its attention to Africa after being surprised by certain countries’ hesitation to denounce Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, which has led to broad Western sanctions.
Weeks after Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited South Africa and said that the United States will pay closer attention to Africans, President Cyril Ramaphosa received unusually kind treatment from Biden, who walked him back to his motorcade at the White House.
“We really need to make sure we fully understand one another,” Biden said as he welcomed Ramaphosa in the Oval Office. “Our partnership is essential.”
In addition to working together on climate change, a top priority for the Biden administration, Ramaphosa said he also wanted to collaborate on security, notably in South Africa’s unstable neighbor Mozambique.
Ramaphosa expressed gratitude to the United States for its “substantial help” on the Covid epidemic during the first part of his visit over breakfast with Vice President Kamala Harris as the Biden administration gives 1.1 billion vaccine shots worldwide.
“The visit really is about strengthening the relationship between South Africa and the United States,” Ramaphosa said, adding that Washington had a “key role” to play on security across Africa.
But Ramaphosa warned Biden over a piece of legislation that has passed through the US House of Representatives which would require a strategy to counter Moscow’s role in Africa.
Ramaphosa said he explained that Africans should not be “punished” for their historic non-aligned position among major powers.
“I think it will harm Africa and marginalize the continent,” Ramaphosa told reporters after his meetings.
“We should not be told by anyone who we can associate with.” The legislation, called the Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act, has yet to clear the Senate and US policymakers stress that it does not in itself lay out any repercussions for African countries.
