South Africa’s Ramaphosa to Meet Trump in US Amid Tensions

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is scheduled to visit Washington, DC, next week to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in an effort to reset the strategic relationship between the two countries amid heightened tensions. The visit follows the U.S. decision to grant refugee status to 49 white Afrikaner South Africans, a move Pretoria strongly rejects, denying claims of persecution and describing the allegations as politically motivated. Relations have further deteriorated due to U.S. criticism of South Africa's land reform policies and its legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice, with Trump cutting all U.S. funding to South Africa. During the meeting, Ramaphosa and Trump are expected to discuss a broad range of bilateral, regional, and global issues, including trade, human rights, and geopolitical alignment. South Africa maintains there is no evidence of racial persecution against white farmers, countering Trump's narrative. The visit represents a critical opportunity to address these disputes and explore ways to improve cooperation between the two nations.