Lawmakers Urge Biden To Penalize South Africa For Alleged Support To Russia

A group of bipartisan lawmakers in the United States has urged the Biden administration to take action against South Africa for its alleged support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

They propose relocating an important trade meeting to another country as a form of punishment.

The lawmakers argue that South Africa’s reported “aid” to Russia, including the alleged supply of weapons, raises concerns about its eligibility to receive trade benefits from the U.S. under a law that grants improved market access to qualifying sub-Saharan African countries. The letter, dated June 9, was addressed to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.

In response, South African foreign ministry spokesperson Clayson Monyela stated that they had taken note of the letter but emphasized that South Africa still enjoys the support of the U.S. government for hosting the African Growth and Opportunity Act meeting.

South Africa is a significant beneficiary of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which grants duty-free access to the U.S. market for sub-Saharan African countries meeting specific criteria. Last year, South Africa’s exports to the U.S. through AGOA were estimated at $3 billion. The U.S. ranks as South Africa’s second-largest trade partner, trailing only China.

In an effort to express solidarity with Ukraine and condemn trading partners who provide assistance to Russia’s ongoing invasion, a group of U.S. lawmakers proposed relocating the upcoming meeting to another country. Their letter, signed by Democratic Senator Chris Coons, Republican Senator Jim Risch, Democratic Representative Gregory Meeks, and Republican Representative Michael McCaul, emphasized the importance of “sending a clear and important message that the United States continues to stand with Ukraine and will not accept our trading partners provision of aid to Russia’s ongoing and brutal invasion”.

Despite South Africa’s historic ties to Russia, particularly within its ruling African National Congress party from the Soviet Union era, the U.S. considers South Africa to be an important political and economic partner. South Africa’s government, however, claims a non-aligned stance on the war in Ukraine.

However, although the United States generally acknowledges South Africa’s claim of a non-aligned stance on the war in Ukraine, it has expressed concerns that certain recent actions by South Africa do not reflect neutrality but instead appear to favor Russia in the conflict.

These U.S. concerns came to public attention last month when U.S. Ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, held a press conference in Pretoria, the South African capital, and accused the country of providing arms to Russia through a cargo ship that secretly visited South Africa’s main naval base in December. South Africa has denied the accusation and has initiated an investigation into the visit of the Russian-flagged ship called Lady R, which is subject to U.S. sanctions due to allegations of transporting weapons for the Russian government.

The lawmakers’ letter mentioned U.S. intelligence indicating that South Africa had “covertly” supplied weapons to Russia on the Lady R. Additionally, they referred to the visit of a Russian military plane, also subject to U.S. sanctions, to a South African airbase in April. Furthermore, they highlighted South Africa’s decision to host naval drills involving Russian and Chinese warships in February, coinciding with the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The lawmakers’ letter expressed serious concern by saying, “We are seriously concerned that hosting the 2023 AGOA Forum in South Africa would serve as an implicit endorsement of South Africa’s damaging support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and possible violation of U.S. sanctions law”.

According to the letter, South Africa was also actively “working to facilitate the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin ”at an upcoming summit of emerging economies in Johannesburg, scheduled for August. It is noteworthy that Putin has been indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes committed in Ukraine. Despite this, a senior official from South Africa’s ruling party recently stated that they would welcome a visit by Putin.

South Africa’s main opposition party interpreted the lawmakers’ letter as a sign that the U.S.’s patience with South Africa’s relationship with Russia was “fast diminishing.”

Although the Biden administration has not explicitly discussed imposing sanctions or punitive measures against South Africa, analysts have suggested that the trade law could be utilized as a means of punishment. Any restriction on South Africa’s trade with the U.S. would have severe consequences for the country, which already faces challenges such as a stagnant economy, high unemployment rates, and an energy crisis.

Responding to these concerns, the spokesperson for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa denounced any talk of formal sanctions against South Africa over its association with Russia as “reckless” and “purely alarmist”.