A bipartisan move in the United States’ House of Representatives has put South Africa’s stand in the conflict between Hamas and Israel firmly in the spotlight, with a call for punitive action against South Africa by one of its biggest trading partners.
Representatives John James (Republican) and Jared Muskowitz (Democratic) have introduced the US-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act in the House of Representatives to fully review the relationship between America and South Africa, given South Africa’s position regarding what it terms “America’s adversaries”.
James released the following statement after introducing the Act: “I am proud to lead the US-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act in the House with my Democrat colleague Jared Muskowitz. South Africa has been building ties to countries and actors that undermine America’s national security and threaten our way of life through its military and political cooperation with China and Russia and its support of US-designated terrorist organisation Hamas. Under this current administration, America has been put last, leaving our allies and partners beholden to dictators and despots in Beijing and Moscow for critical needs like energy.
“To ensure America’s energy security and national security, we must examine our alliances and disentangle from those willing to mix with our adversaries.”
