South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa is eager to strike a wide-ranging deal with the US to boost trade and diplomacy, as tensions grow between the two nations. Speaking at a Goldman Sachs event, he made it clear he’d rather focus on a solid agreement than defend South Africa’s actions. Ties soured after Trump stopped nearly all US aid, upset over new land policies and South Africa’s stance against Israel in a global court.
This move left a R7.5 billion gap in the country’s HIV programs. Ramaphosa stressed that in today’s linked world, both sides need to work together, even if they disagree on some issues. Trump recently posted on Truth Social, claiming South Africa is taking people’s land, but no private land has been seized since apartheid ended in 1994. Ramaphosa suggested Trump misunderstood the policy and said it’s better to stay calm and let things settle before acting. He’s confident a deal with the US is on the horizon despite the rocky patch.