South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has made it clear that his country won’t be intimidated by the United States.
This comes after US President Donald Trump threatened to cut off funding to South Africa over its land reform policies.
Trump’s criticism was swift and harsh, accusing South Africa of “confiscating land and treating certain classes of people very badly”. But Ramaphosa refused to back down, stating that South Africa “will not be bullied” by the US.
South African President Ramaphosa’s defiance was evident in his annual state of the nation address, where he emphasized the need for South Africa to stand together and assert its sovereignty in the face of growing geopolitical tensions.
South Africa is taking on a more prominent role on the global stage, having assumed the presidency of the G20. This marks the first time an African nation has held the position. Ramaphosa has pledged to use this platform to advance the interests of Africa and the Global South.
The US criticism of South Africa’s land reform policies is part of a broader debate about land ownership and racial disparities in South Africa.
The country’s new laws aim to address these disparities, but the US has expressed concerns about the impact on property rights and economic stability.
Watch Ramaphosa Speak Below:
