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South Africa, Maverick News

Biden congratulates Ramaphosa on re-election and forming the GNU

Biden congratulates Ramaphosa on re-election and forming the GNU
Cyril Ramaphosa is sworn in by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo at the Union Buildings as President of South Africa. (Photo: Phando Jikelo / Parliament of SA)
The US president also confirmed he will visit SA for the 2025 G20 summit, but it’s by no means certain that he’ll still be president then.

US President Joe Biden phoned President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday to congratulate him on his re-election and the successful formation of the government of national unity (GNU).

The two presidents “expressed their shared commitment to advancing the special relationship between the two countries”, said Ramaphosa’s office.

Biden Ramaphosa Cyril Ramaphosa is sworn in as President of South Africa by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo at the Union Buildings, Pretoria. (Photo: Phando Jikelo / Parliament of SA)



“President Biden pledged that the United States will work closely with the seventh administration in South Africa on key areas such as economic growth, job creation, social development and climate change as well as South Africa’s presidency of the G20 in 2025,” Ramaphosa’s office continued. 

“President Biden confirmed that he will visit South Africa and participate in the G20 meetings. President Ramaphosa expressed his appreciation for this commitment and in turn extended an invitation to President Biden to undertake a state visit to South Africa. Dates will be confirmed by the respective diplomatic teams.”

Diplomats said it meant a lot that Biden had made the gesture of calling Ramaphosa at a time when he is under huge pressure at home in a very difficult re-election campaign.

After what was widely rated as a disastrous debate with his Republican opponent, former president Donald Trump, Biden (81) faces growing demands from the Democratic Party to back out of the November presidential election and allow a younger and more vigorous candidate to take on Trump.

South Africa will take over the presidency of the G20 at the end of this year and will host the annual summit of the group late in 2025.

Given that Biden was trailing Trump in the polls even before last Thursday’s presidential debate, it is by no means certain that it will be Biden rather than Trump who visits South Africa for the G20 summit.

Biden’s recommitment to strengthening relations with South Africa comes just after the Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed legislation that would require the Biden administration to thoroughly review US relations with SA and to report to Congress on whether SA has undermined US national security and foreign policy interests through its relations with Russia, China and Iran.

However, the legislation would also have to be adopted by the Democratic Party-controlled Senate before becoming law. DM