Faith Nyasuguta
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed a phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump, in which the two leaders discussed strained bilateral relations and the urgent need to end the war in Ukraine. The call comes amid growing tensions between the two countries since Trump’s return to the White House in January.
According to Ramaphosa, both leaders agreed to meet soon to address the key issues affecting U.S.–South Africa relations. “We also spoke about the need to foster good relations between our two countries,” Ramaphosa posted in a statement on X. Their agreement to meet marks a notable attempt at diplomacy after months of icy relations.
Tensions escalated after the Trump administration expelled South Africa’s ambassador and slashed financial aid. Washington also imposed a 37% tariff on South African exports, though this has been paused for 90 days to allow space for negotiations. The White House has cited South Africa’s land reform policies and its legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice as reasons for its hard stance.
Ramaphosa defended South Africa’s position, insisting that the land reforms are constitutional and are meant to address deep-rooted racial inequalities stemming from apartheid. He emphasized that no land seizures have taken place, calling the reforms a necessary step toward justice and equity.
On the global stage, both Ramaphosa and Trump voiced strong support for ending the war in Ukraine. “We both agreed that the war should be brought to an end as soon as possible to stop further unnecessary deaths,” Ramaphosa stated. The leaders highlighted the importance of peace negotiations and the broader impact the war is having on global stability.
Coinciding with the call, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was forced to abruptly cut short a visit to South Africa after a Russian missile struck Kyiv. Zelenskyy, who had just met with Ramaphosa, returned to Ukraine immediately to manage the crisis.
Ramaphosa clarified that his scheduled call with Trump was unrelated to Zelenskyy’s visit, emphasizing that the two conversations addressed different diplomatic priorities.
The proposed meeting between Ramaphosa and Trump could prove pivotal in resetting U.S and South Africa relations and fostering collaborative efforts on peace and development.
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