South African President Cyril Ramaphosa met with US President Donald Trump at the White House to discuss strained relations between the two countries. The meeting aimed to address disputes over land reform, injustices faced by white South Africans, and international conflicts.
Ramaphosa expressed optimism about the engagement, saying, “We are ready; hoping to have good discussions with President Trump and his government colleagues… we are looking forward to a good meeting. We’re looking forward to a good outcome for our country, people, jobs and trade relations, and normalize relations between our countries”.
He emphasized the importance of trade relations, as the US is South Africa’s second-largest trade partner after China, and Trump’s announcement of tariffs in April has sparked concern among exporters.
The meeting comes amid heightened tensions between the US and South Africa, particularly over the land expropriation law, which Trump claims targets white Afrikaners. Ramaphosa’s office framed the talks as a chance to re-establish trust and reset bilateral relations.
Ramaphosa will be accompanied by several ministers, including Minister Ronald Lamola and Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni. Trump welcomed Ramaphosa at 5:30 pm South African time, followed by a bilateral meeting at 6:45 pm in the Oval Office.
Ramaphosa and Trump also discussed the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with both leaders emphasizing the need to end the war. Ramaphosa stated that they wanted to meet to address matters and “foster relations between our two countries”. The meeting is seen as pivotal for US-South Africa trade relations, with the outcome potentially impacting South Africa’s economy.