Abdullah Al-Haqim 
3/13/2025–|Last update: 3/14/202512:12 AM (Mecca time)
The European Union and South Africa showed their convergence during a summit meeting in Cape Town, on Thursday, in light of diplomatic and commercial challenges since Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
South African President Cyril Ramafuza said that the summit came “at a time when uncertainty in the world is characterized by the escalation of unilateral and economic nationalism.”
For his part, European Council President Antonio Costa said that the world order “faces increasing challenges”, as well as the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Line, confirmed that this “era of confrontation and the maximum global competition.”
Von der Line announced an investment plan of about 5 billion euros (5.42 billion dollars) in South Africa, including financing in energy and the development of the vaccine industry.
The European Union and South Africa participate that they are targeted by Trump, as Pretoria was deprived of American aid and was accused in a presidential decree of treating the descendants of European settlers in a “unfair” way, and was criticized by its call against Israel before the International Court of Justice for committing genocide in Gaza.
This is the eighth summit between the two sides, and it came after 7 years of the previous summit, a delay due to the Kofid-19 (Corona) pandemic, according to President Ramafuza.
It was announced last month weeks after the start of the new Trump presidency, which targeted South Africa with several measures.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqaqsi9prny
“Successful” summit
Costa said that the South African European summit was “successful”, while von der Line described it as “warm”.
South Africa is the largest commercial partner of the European Union in sub -Saharan Africa, with the total trade value of 49 billion euros (53.17 billion dollars) in 2023.
Ironically, the United States has recently started a great convergence with Russia while the rapprochement between Pretoria and Moscow was one of the criticism of the administration of former US President Joe Biden.
“In the past, we were accused of bias. Our participation has proven to be neutral,” Ramavusa said.
Ramafuza is expected to receive Ukrainian President Voludimir Zellinski for the first time, during an official visit on April 10.
For her part, the head of the European Commission said: “I was very happy when I learned that President Zellinski would visit” South Africa, stressing that “it is important to” discuss “how to reach a peace agreement in Ukraine.
