South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the White House on Wednesday for high-stakes talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, aiming to repair the increasingly tense relationship between the two countries since Trump’s return to office.
Ramaphosa arrived bearing offers of trade deals and investment opportunities, seeking to shift the dynamic from criticism and punitive measures to partnership. Since the start of Trump’s second term, relations have deteriorated sharply, with Trump targeting South Africa’s land reform policies and its legal actions against Israel. These tensions led to the U.S. cutting aid to South Africa, expelling its ambassador, and granting asylum to white Afrikaners citing racial persecution claims Pretoria strongly denies.
“The visit will concentrate on redefining our bilateral, economic, and commercial partnerships,” Ramaphosa’s office stated ahead of the meeting. The South African leader expressed on state television, “Regardless of our preferences, we are interconnected, and dialogue is essential.”
Trade is central to the discussions, with South Africa relying on the U.S. as its second-largest trading partner after China. Ramaphosa is expected to propose a comprehensive trade agreement and explore business opportunities involving companies like Tesla and Starlink, owned by Elon Musk, a South African native who has publicly criticized Ramaphosa’s policies.
The meeting also comes amid broader geopolitical concerns, including the war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict, which Ramaphosa intends to address with Trump.
This visit marks Trump’s first engagement with an African leader since his inauguration and represents a critical opportunity to reset diplomatic relations strained by accusations, sanctions, and divergent political stances. Both leaders face pressure to find common ground as they navigate complex domestic and international challenges.