“WE STILL SEE THE U.S AS AN IMPORTANT PARTNER”- Says South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola
South Africa’s foreign minister Ronald Lamola has stated that the country still views the United States as an important partner, despite his claims that the United States had ignored attempts to discuss the cut-off aid
Lamola, who stated that the lines of engagement and communication between the two countries must remain open, says South Africa will continually reach out to the US, but expressed his acceptance that both countries may not agree on certain issues.
President Trump cut U.S. financial assistance to the country earlier this month, citing disapproval of its land reform policy and of its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
South Africa will host the G20 meeting of foreign ministers later this week in Johannesburg, which U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is not attending after he expressed disapproval of South Africa’s G20 theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability.”
Lamola said South Africa was setting up bilateral meetings with a number of countries with whom it has good trade relations, including China which he said had pledged its support.
“(China said) that they are there in solidarity with us, and they stand ready to pledge support in terms of whatever trade relations and challenges that they can,” the minister said.
