South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is in Washington for critical talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, aiming to defuse tensions and secure trade and investment deals as U.S.-South Africa relations face challenges.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Washington on Wednesday to meet U.S. President Donald Trump, hoping to restore strained ties and unlock new trade and investment opportunities.
The visit follows months of tensions after Trump attacked South Africa’s land reform law, cut aid, expelled the ambassador, and accused the government of anti-white policies - claims Pretoria strongly denies.
"Whether we like it or not, we are joined at the hip and we need to be talking to them," Ramaphosa said on South African state TV ahead of the meeting.
The U.S. is South Africa’s second-largest trading partner, and aid cuts have already disrupted HIV testing. Ramaphosa is offering broad trade deals, including duty-free access for Tesla cars in exchange for infrastructure investment. Talks will also focus on protecting South African agricultural exports under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which is threatened by Trump’s tariff plans.
Trump is expected to demand that U.S. firms be exempt from South Africa’s empowerment laws, which require support for historically disadvantaged groups. Ramaphosa is unlikely to back down, as these policies are central to post-apartheid economic justice.
Ramaphosa is joined by ministers, luxury goods tycoon Johann Rupert, and golf stars Ernie Els and Retief Goosen - seen as possible bridges to Trump, who shares close ties with all three.
Despite Trump’s claims of land seizures and violence against white farmers, no such expropriations have occurred. White South Africans, who make up 7% of the population, still control most farmland and remain wealthier than the Black majority.
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Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader on Monday (9 March), signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge, as the week-old U.S.-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil above $100 a barrel.
Global oil prices have surged past $110 a barrel this Monday as fresh U.S.-Israeli strikes hit multiple targets, including oil depots. Stock markets fell on fears the conflict with Iran could disrupt shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns over global energy supply.
U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran to expect further strikes on Saturday (7 March). In a post on social media, he said Iran would be 'hit very hard'. His comments came a week into the conflict with Iran, which has spread across the Middle East.
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened further attacks on Iran on Saturday (7 March), while the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia continued to shoot down missiles in their airspace. Meanwhile, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would stop attacking its neighbours.
Trump says the United States "don’t need people that join wars after we’ve already won," targeting his criticism at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Israel continues to fire missles at strategic sites in Iran and Gulf regions report more strikes from Iran.
Baku has completed its evacuation of staff from the Azerbaijan Consulate General in Tabriz, while most employees from the Azerbaijan Embassy in Tehran have also returned.
Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport came under attack in heavy airstrikes on early Saturday morning (7 March), Iranian news agencies reported.
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened further attacks on Iran on Saturday (7 March), while the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia continued to shoot down missiles in their airspace. Meanwhile, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would stop attacking its neighbours.
Russian attacks on Ukraine’s second largest city in the early hours of Saturday (7 March) killed 10 people, including two children. Kharkiv mayor, Ihor Terekov, said 10 residents died after a Russian ballistic missile hit a five storey apartment block in the city.
The Group of Seven (G7) finance ministers will meet on Monday to discuss a global rise in oil prices and a joint release of oil from emergency reserves coordinated by the International Energy Agency, the Financial Times reports.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 9th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Global oil prices have surged past $110 a barrel this Monday as fresh U.S.-Israeli strikes hit multiple targets, including oil depots. Stock markets fell on fears the conflict with Iran could disrupt shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns over global energy supply.
The U.S. embassy in Oslo was hit by a loud explosion early on Sunday (8 March), causing minor damage but no injuries, in what may have been a deliberate attack linked to the crisis in the Middle East, Norwegian police said.
Russian attacks on Ukraine’s second largest city in the early hours of Saturday (7 March) killed 10 people, including two children. Kharkiv mayor, Ihor Terekov, said 10 residents died after a Russian ballistic missile hit a five storey apartment block in the city.
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