Cape Town – The South African government has strongly rejected claims that the United States is ignoring it, amidst ongoing diplomatic tensions with the White House, emphasising that it is actively engaged in resolving the strains.
Relations between the two countries have been tense since Donald Trump’s re-election as president, with a series of actions exacerbating the situation.
These include Trump signing an executive order against South Africa’s government and the recent expulsion of South Africa’s ambassador to Washington, Ebrahim Rasool.
The expulsion has particularly stirred controversy, given Rasool’s prominent diplomatic role and the longstanding ties between the two nations.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Bana Pele leadership summit in Johannesburg on Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed these issues and reassured the public that South Africa is not being sidelined in its diplomatic efforts with the US.
He confirmed that the government has been engaged in ongoing discussions with the US, and the situation is being actively managed through diplomatic channels.
“We are not being blue-ticked. We are engaging… We are not being ignored. We are continuing to engage with them,” Ramaphosa said.
He further emphasised that South Africa’s diplomatic efforts were progressing, with notable achievements being made in efforts to address and straighten out the challenges in the bilateral relationship.
“As it is now, a great deal of progress has been made by our ambassador in straightening out the path to ensure that there is meaningful engagement at a diplomatic level,” he added.
“We are not being blue-ticked,” – President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasises that engagements with the White House continue amid strained diplomatic ties. @JusstAlpha pic.twitter.com/hjS9HWY5r4
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) March 17, 2025
The issue of South Africa’s strained relations with the US has sparked broader concerns, particularly after several influential political groups, including the minority group AfriForum and the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), visited Washington to meet with senior officials from the Trump administration.
These visits raised questions about why the US seemed to engage with other groups while bypassing direct talks with the South African government.
Ramaphosa firmly rejected the notion that South Africa had been sidelined in favour of these external engagements, noting the country’s importance both politically and economically.
“We cannot be blue-ticked because we are such an important player to the United States of America, as they are an important player to South Africa politically and economically,” the president declared.
“So, we are not blue-tickable,” he added, reinforcing the mutual importance of the relationship between the two nations.
In an effort to further stabilise the situation and ensure positive diplomatic relations, President Ramaphosa revealed that South Africa is planning to send a high-level delegation to the United States.
This delegation will aim to address the diplomatic rift and work towards restoring the productive engagement that both countries have historically enjoyed.
Ramaphosa said, “We are working on improving relations, and we are determined to ensure that the bilateral relationship between South Africa and the United States continues to grow in the right direction.”
The relationship between South Africa and the US has been a topic of significant international attention, particularly in light of the Trump administration’s foreign policy stance, which has often been seen as unpredictable and controversial.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
