United States cuts military defence ties to South Africa

IN A SIGNIFICANT development that marks a further deterioration in relations between South Africa and the United States, Washington has announced the suspension of military assistance and cooperation with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).

- SIFISO MAHLANGU [e-mail]

A memo that is, at this point, still clandestine reveals that on March 13, the US Department of State outlined the decision, which is in line with an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump.

The directive, addressed to Aaron Harding, the Chief Financial Officer of the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DCSA), instructs that all foreign aid and military assistance to South Africa be immediately halted.

This includes the suspension of key programmes such as International Military Education and Training (IMET), Foreign Military Financing (FMF), and Foreign Military Sales (FMS).

The memo also specifies that any South African military personnel currently in the US for training or educational purposes should be sent home as soon as possible.