Biden administration shares concerns of US Congress over SA’s perceived support for Russia

US administration officials share the concerns of congressional leaders who have asked the administration to move this year’s African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) forum from South Africa because of Pretoria’s perceived support for Russia in its war against Ukraine.

But senior administration officials have declined to say if they will heed the call from the senior congressional leaders to punish South Africa in this way. 

Judd Devermont, Africa director of the National Security Council, welcomed Pretoria’s commitment to investigate the alleged loading of arms for Russia onto the Russian cargo ship Lady R in Simon’s Town naval base last December.

It was this incident more than anything else that appeared to have provoked the call from the four congressional leaders for Washington to act against South Africa.

Taking the Agoa forum away from South Africa would likely send a damaging message to US investors and traders – and perhaps others – that South Africa is not a country to do business with.

The letter from the congressional leaders said that intelligence suggested the South African government used the Lady R to “covertly supply Russia with arms and ammunition that could be used in its illegal war in Ukraine”.

They cited this as evidence that despite SA’s professed non-aligned stance, it had deepened its military relationship with Russia over the past year.

They also cited as evidence the joint military exercises SA held with Russia and China in February, the authorised landing of a US-sanctioned Russian military cargo plane at Waterkloof airforce base in April, and the fact that Pretoria was trying to ensure Russian President Vladimir Putin participates in the BRICS summit which SA is supposed to host in August, despite the outstanding arrest warrant for Putin issued by the International Criminal Court.

The letter was signed by powerful congressional leaders of both parties and Houses: Democratic Senator Chris Coons, a member of the Foreign Relations and Appropriation committees and a longtime friend to South Africa; Republican Michael Mccaul, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs; Senator Jim Risch, the senior Republican of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations; and Gregory Meeks, the senior Democrat in the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. 

They addressed their letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai and President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan.