Judd Devermont & Jirair Ratevosian on U.S.-South Africa: "A pretty pathological relationship."

Jirair Ratevosian, CSIS non-resident fellow and Judd Devermont, Kupanda Capital, unpack how and why the Trump administration has turned upside down the relationship with South Africa, starting with the President's Executive Order of February 7. What followed were allegations of genocide against white Afrikaners, the decision to end PEPFAR in March of 2027, the suspension of NIH grantmaking, and the exclusion of South Africa from the G20 summit in December in Miami, among many other related steps to demonize South Africa as a "DEI state." These changes all come with a price to U.S. national interests, even while acknowledging South Africa's corruption and flawed governance. The future remains uncertain but not without hope to rebuild trust and cooperation, particularly with changes in Congress.