By: Buhle Mbhele
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to undertake a four-day working visit to the United States from next week Monday until Thursday.
According to the Presidency, Ramaphosa is scheduled to meet with his counterpart, President Donald Trump, at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. The leaders are expected to discuss bilateral, regional, and global issues of mutual interest.
The long-awaited meeting between the two heads of state is set to draw international attention. Countries such as China are closely monitoring the outcome due to their significant trading relationships with the US.
This visit comes in the wake of weeks of tension, including funding cuts to South Africa, the imposition of tariffs, and repeated claims by President Trump alleging that South Africa’s land expropriation policy discriminates against certain racial groups, with “horrible things” reportedly happening in the country.
In response, the presidency has engaged in damage control, working to correct these assertions. Meanwhile, lobby group AfriForum sent a delegation to the White House in support of Trump’s position. President Ramaphosa has affirmed that appropriate diplomatic channels are being used to communicate with the US government.
The Presidency now says that Ramaphosa’s visit presents an opportunity to reset the strategic relationship between the two nations.
The visit also comes shortly after the arrival of 49 white Afrikaners in the United States on Monday. They are the first group to benefit from President Trump’s controversial resettlement programme.
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