Diplomatic ballet in South Africa: coincidence or competition between great powers?
Josep Borrell, head of European diplomacy, January 23, 2023. REUTERS - JOHANNA GERON
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4 mins
After Russia, in the person of Sergei Lavrov last Monday, the United States and the European Union are also visiting Pretoria, with the concomitant visit of the American Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen and the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell .
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With our special correspondent in Pretoria,
Claire Bargelès
South Africa, courted from all sides, has just experienced a
week of diplomatic ballet
with visits from various world powers.
And the balancing act continues for Naledi Pandor, South Africa's foreign minister, over her country's non-aligned position.
After having welcomed her Russian counterpart with open arms a few days ago, here she is in this same building in Pretoria, this time alongside Josep Borrell, Vice-President of the European Commission, who urges her to make right to his partner from the Brics.
“
I really hope that South Africa, our strategic partner, will be able to use its good relations with Russia to convince it to stop this senseless war
”, pleaded Josep Borrell.
A call that the South African minister tempered, judging that the effort must be global.
“
It is not just South Africa or African countries that have to play a role in achieving peace.
We must all work together to find a negotiated solution that addresses the concerns of the various players involved.
»
Josep Borrell also returned to the military exercises that Pretoria intends to carry out next month off its coasts with China and Russia.
“
Each country has the right to develop its international strategies, according to its own interests.
But the fact that it coincides with the date that marks the beginning of the war is not really to our liking.
However, our preferences cannot limit the sovereign decisions of our partner.
»
The European Union as a whole is still among South Africa's most important trading partners.
■ “There is a realization that Africa matters”
Interview with Steven Gruzd, Director of the Africa-Russia Program at the South African Institute of International Affairs.
Why is South Africa so courted?
South Africa is an important country, its opinions matter, even if it has been less active on the international scene in the last ten years and its reputation has been somewhat tarnished under the presidency of Jacob Zuma.
Its economy is developed, it is one of the gateways to the continent, a leader in terms of opinion.
In one week, we saw the Russians, the Americans, the Europeans, without forgetting the French president last year, the German chancellor, the Chinese foreign minister.
All these countries are maneuvering to position themselves, influence, “be in the picture” if I may say so.
Russia, for example, seeks to show that it is not isolated, that sanctions have not affected it, that it is able to have friends on the continent, to trade and to exercise his influence.
And for the United States, is it a question of returning after an absence on the continent?
Absolutely.
We saw that President Trump was not interested in Africa, that he was even insulting – he confused the names, he called Namibia “Nambia”.
Under his presidency, relations with Africa were suspended.
Current President Biden has rekindled those relationships, with Secretary of State Anthony Blinken visiting the continent last year.
There is a realization that Africa matters, there is trade to be done, there is a lot of potential.
And competitors from the United States are very active there.
Over the past 25 years, China has become a key partner for Africa, overtaking the United States.
His involvement, his volume of trade is phenomenal.
Whether in construction or in infrastructure.
Russia remains a conventional actor, with economic exchanges, but has also become a military actor, with its Wagner group present in several countries which allows Russia to prosper.
Is this competition between great powers only economic?
There is very clearly an economic competition.
Africa has minerals, agricultural products that are of interest to the rest of the world.
But there is also a diplomatic aspect.
Africa holds 54 votes in the UN General Assembly.
It matters.
As we saw during the vote to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Africa was divided, half supporting the position of Western countries, the other not.
Today, the great powers are jostling to be able to influence Africa.
But what is important is that Africa is not just a playground.
Africans have their own interests, they want to play and not just be a piece on the chessboard.
They have become more astute, multiplying partners, using each other to get the best for themselves.
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