Trump’s Foreign Policy Push Against South Africa’s Pro-Palestine Position

By Dr. Halim Gençoğlu

South Africa’s enduring solidarity with Palestine is deeply rooted in its own historical struggle against apartheid, shaping both its domestic discourse and foreign policy. This principled stance—exemplified by figures like Nelson Mandela—has led South Africa to openly criticize Israel’s treatment of Palestinians and draw direct parallels with its own past. However, during Donald Trump’s presidency, this position triggered political and economic retaliation from the United States. Through threats to revoke trade benefits under AGOA and public interference in South Africa’s internal affairs, the Trump administration sought to penalize countries like South Africa for supporting Palestine. This reflects a broader pattern of U.S. foreign policy under Trump, in which economic leverage was used to silence dissenting voices on global justice issues. Despite such pressures, South Africa maintained its pro-Palestinian stance, reaffirming its commitment to historical memory, moral responsibility, and international solidarity.

Recently, Israel has carried out airstrikes targeting military bases, propaganda offices, fuel depots, and certain critical infrastructure facilities used by the Houthis in Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, and the al-Jawf province. These attacks are being justified as “retaliation” for the drone and missile assaults launched by the Houthis against Israel. As a result of these strikes, civilian residential areas have been damaged, numerous civilian casualties and injuries have been reported, infrastructure has been destroyed, and widespread fear and trauma have been inflicted on the population.

Additionally, reports suggest that Israel has also conducted targeted attacks against Hamas members and security personnel in Qatar. These interventions in Doha have further escalated regional diplomatic tensions. In such a conflict-ridden context, considering the civilian impact of the attacks, the term “terror” becomes a legitimate description. This is because a state pushing the boundaries of international law under the pretext of security concerns—resulting in civilian harm and the destruction of cultural and humanitarian values—only distances the region further from long-term peace.

On the other hand, Israel’s actions must also be assessed within the context of its security needs, as the state has a responsibility to protect its citizens. However, this duty must be balanced with adherence to international law. Undoubtedly, without U.S. support, such attacks would be far more risky in both logistical and diplomatic terms, and would likely provoke stronger international condemnation.

South Africa, on the other hand, has shown deep solidarity with the Palestinian people, informed by its own historical experiences and struggle for freedom. In this article, we will examine South Africa’s approach to the Palestinian issue and subsequently explore the political and economic pressures the United States—particularly during the Trump era—has exerted on South Africa in this context.

South Africa and Palestine Through the Lens of History

The Palestine issue has remained one of the most controversial and sensitive topics in global politics for decades. While occupation, displacement, and human rights violations are among the main systemic problems faced by the Palestinian people, the responses to this issue vary widely across the world.

South Africa is a country that endured a long struggle against the apartheid regime. During this struggle, South Africans experienced firsthand how vital international solidarity could be. In a similar spirit, they have embraced the Palestinian people’s struggle against occupation and discrimination. One of the country’s most iconic figures, Nelson Mandela, expressed a clear stance on this issue:

“We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”

This historical perspective has been reflected in South Africa’s foreign policy. The Republic of South Africa has frequently compared Israel’s practices in Palestinian territories to apartheid and has openly criticized them. In this context, South Africa has supported United Nations resolutions against Israel and has at times downgraded its diplomatic relations. In 2019, South Africa permanently recalled its ambassador from Tel Aviv and downgraded its embassy to a “liaison office.” This move was seen as a strong political message in response to Israel’s attacks on Gaza.

Support for Palestine in South Africa is not limited to government actions. Civil society organizations, universities, trade unions, and religious institutions also offer strong backing for the Palestinian cause. Many human rights organizations in the country actively participate in the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaigns targeting Israel. Particularly within universities, pro-Palestinian movements resist cooperation with Israeli institutions and support Palestinian academics. The foundational belief behind this solidarity is that just as South Africans were liberated through global support, so too should the Palestinian people be.

Pressures on South Africa During the Trump Era

Donald Trump’s presidency between 2017 and 2021 marked a period of significant shifts in U.S. foreign policy, often straining relations with traditional allies. During this time, South Africa became one of the countries targeted by the Trump administration. The U.S. government openly criticized South Africa’s stance against Israel. Washington, disturbed by the growing global influence of pro-Palestinian policies, sought to economically and diplomatically pressure countries taking such positions—South Africa being one of them.

During Trump’s term, the U.S. threatened South Africa with certain trade sanctions. One of South Africa’s major sources of export revenue—agricultural products and the automotive industry—benefited from tariff-free trade under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). However, the Trump administration threatened to revoke these privileges, using them as leverage. This was not merely about trade disputes; behind the pressure lay South Africa’s vocal criticism of Israel and its political support for Palestine. This approach exemplified how U.S. foreign policy was being instrumentalized through economic interests.

Additionally, in 2018, tech billionaire Elon Musk criticized radical statements by Julius Malema during debates over land reform in South Africa, particularly the expropriation of white-owned farms. Musk, in posts on Twitter (now X), commented on the spread of misinformation claiming “mass killings of white farmers” in South Africa, aiming to balance extreme narratives. Trump, picking up on these claims, also tweeted about the “situation of farmers in South Africa,” accusing the country of implementing “racist” policies. These comments were widely interpreted as interference in South Africa’s internal affairs and sparked major backlash within the country.

The Trump administration also attempted to curb South Africa’s influence in international platforms, especially at the United Nations. Countries voting in favor of Palestine were “noted,” and Trump himself stated that aid funds to such countries could be reduced. As a result, South Africa’s pro-Palestine stance at the UN placed it squarely in Washington’s crosshairs.

Conclusion

In a 1996 interview on Larry King Live, renowned actor Marlon Brando remarked that Hollywood was largely owned and run by Jews, and that such influence came with responsibility. He also pointed out that minorities like Black people were often portrayed negatively in Hollywood, while Jewish communities took care to protect their image and avoid such stereotypes. There is little doubt that Jews have maintained strong control over capital from South Africa to the United States, shaping influence accordingly.

South Africa’s perspective on the Palestinian issue, however, is rooted in historical memory, moral responsibility, and a global sense of justice. This solidarity is not merely a diplomatic gesture; it is a principled stance that connects past injustices to present ones. Yet, particularly during the Trump era, this stance was met with significant economic and political pressure from the United States. Washington followed a punitive strategy against countries that supported Palestine, and nations like South Africa, which maintained a dignified and principled position, were willing to pay the price. Trump’s public targeting of South Africa’s land reform initiatives via social media, and his portrayal of these efforts as “racist,” exemplify the broader pressure campaign. These remarks were widely condemned within South Africa as an unacceptable intrusion into its domestic affairs.

In the global struggle for Palestinian freedom, South Africa’s voice stands not only as a gesture of support, but as a moral call echoing from history to the present. The Trump era will be remembered as a dark period in which this call was met not with empathy, but with attempts at silencing it through pressure and sanctions.

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