MOMENT OF TRUTH: Blue landslide in US gives SA hope — but Trump still has sharp teeth
Democratic control of the US Congress could help South Africa to repair its strained relations with Washington, but the cornered president retains power over foreign policy — and he may well use it.
The Democratic Party's sweeping victory in the US midterm elections has created a glimmer of hope for South Africa's strained relations with Washington. President Donald Trump's administration, which had alienated many African nations, including South Africa, is now facing a significant challenge as Democrats take control of both houses of Congress.
In a stunning rebuke of Trump, Democrats have won 54 seats in the Senate and at least 245 seats in the House of Representatives. As the midterm results continued to trickle in on Thursday morning, commentators hailed this as the end of the Trump era and the start of a new chapter for US-South Africa relations.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed optimism, stating that the Democratic landslide "could introduce a new era in world relations." He said that the Democratic majority in Congress would likely bring about changes and create opportunities for South Africa to have more sympathetic hearing.
Key committees, such as the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee, will now be chaired by Democrats. This could potentially lead to more favorable policies towards South Africa, particularly in the areas of trade and foreign relations.
However, Trump's final decision on South Africa's eligibility for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa), which provides preferential access to the US market, remains a concern. The decision requires a 60-day notice from Washington, giving South Africa until early January to try to reverse the administration's move.
While the Democratic landslide offers some opportunities, experts caution that the final say on Agoa eligibility still lies with the president. South Africa may need to shift its focus towards negotiating a conventional reciprocal free trade agreement with the US to secure more stable economic relations.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
