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.
In South Africa's hopes for a better relationship with the United States, the recent Democratic victory in both houses of Congress has provided optimism. However, President Donald Trump's influence over foreign policy remains a factor. The election served as a significant setback to Trump, leading to the ousting of many of his supporters.
As of Thursday morning, Democrats held 54 seats in the Senate and at least 245 in the House. The Democratic party's control could potentially pave the way for improved relations between South Africa and the US. President Cyril Ramaphosa believes the Democratic landslide could usher in a new era in global relations, as the US is an influential economy.
South Africa's deputy minister of trade, trade and competition, John Steenhuisen, stated that the rejection of Trump and his supporters presents opportunities for South Africa to be met more favorably by Democrats. Bob Wekesa, director of the African Centre for the Study of the US at Wits University, considers the Democratic wave to be a significant positive development.
However, South Africa's eligibility for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) may still be subject to the president's decision. While Congress establishes Agoa, the president has the authority to determine eligibility. Therefore, South Africa may have limited success in overturning the decision to remove it from Agoa, as the final say rests with the president.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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