By Sabian Lloyd.
Despite being caught in a challenging situation due to the escalating rift with the United States, South Africa must refrain from bowing to US President Donald Trump.
As the diplomatic dispute continues to unravel, IOL recently reported that Ebrahim Rasool, former South African ambassador to the US, returned to Cape Town on Sunday after being dismissed from Washington DC.
The ex-ambassador was welcomed as a hero, surrounded by family and compatriots.
In a conversation with SABC, Yanis Varoufakis emphasized that the fallout offers South Africa a tough yet valuable chance to enhance its self-sufficiency. He urged against appealing to Trump for assistance.
“Isn’t this a tremendous opportunity for South Africa to bolster its self-reliance? There are many untapped resources available to South Africa. With better organization of your political economy, you can achieve greater self-sufficiency and improve the capacity to produce pharmaceuticals that are presently imported from the United States. While this is a crisis, it also stands as a chance for increased efficiency and self-reliance,” he stated during the interview.
“Moreover, individuals like Donald Trump do not respect sycophants. It is vital for your leadership to avoid the error of seeking favors from the White House or acquiescing to Trump. He values strength, and while moderation is essential, one must avoid pleading for forgiveness, as many leaders across the globe have found to their sorrow.”
He also noted that Trump is aware of the profit margins of numerous American businesses engaged with South Africa as part of the economic relations between Pretoria and Washington DC.
On Monday, QT reported that International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola met with Rasool following his expulsion from the US.
Rasool expressed to the South Africans who came to greet him that he holds no animosity towards the US or its president.
He emphasized that South Africa has maintained a robust relationship with the US for over five decades, extending beyond just the White House to Congress and, most importantly, the American populace.
He reiterated the necessity of nurturing the South Africa-United States relationship, notwithstanding the existing tensions.
