Cyril Must Seize Opportunity

The Israel-Iran war lasted only 12 days, but its consequences will reshape global politics for years.

- William Saunderson-Meyer

One positive is that the battering taken by South Africa's ally, Iran, could paradoxically greatly benefit this country, if President Cyril Ramaphosa had the wit and courage to seize the opportunity.

The greatest impediment to a good relationship with the United States has been SA's support of Iran. It is hardly surprising, then, that SA's increasing alignment with Iran's "axis of resistance" and its self-appointed role as a spokesperson for the global south in siding with Russia and China against Western democracies, has caused the US steadily growing concern over the past dozen or so years.

This came to a head in February under the combative presidency of Donald Trump, who issued a punishing executive order against SA. Despite these substantial economic costs caused by the order and Ramaphosa speaking fervently about the need to "reset" ties with the US, the government seems paralyzed.

It boils down to the fact that foreign policy is not determined by pragmatism and national interest, but by ideology and party interest.