US Congress targets South Africa over deepening ties with Russia, China

By Julian Pecquet, in Washington

Posted on Wednesday, 1 March 2023 13:40
In this file photo, Russia's President Vladimir Putin speaks with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the 2019 Russia-Africa summit. Sergei Chirikov/Pool via REUTERS

The US Congress is pressing President Joe Biden to take a tougher stance against South Africa over its deepening ties to Russia and China.

In his first act as chairman of the newly revamped House Foreign Affairs panel on Africa, Republican John James of Michigan last week introduced legislation denouncing South Africa’s recent joint maritime exercises with the Russian and Chinese navies. The resolution calls on the Biden administration to conduct a “thorough review” of bilateral relations in the wake of recent South African actions, including the country’s refusal to denounce Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in the UN.