WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden will host South African President Cyril Ramaphosa within the Oval Workplace for a bilateral assembly Friday, the place they’re anticipated to debate the battle in Ukraine.
In April, Biden and Ramaphosa had “a frank and open dialog about what was occurring in Ukraine,” a senior administration official mentioned, previewing the assembly. The official added “there was a variety of listening, a variety of session.”
Ramaphosa has shunned condemning Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, and his nation has largely remained impartial in the course of the battle.
“Because the battle has advanced, we’re keen to listen to South Africa’s perspective on how will we attain a simply conclusion to the battle, and what are the means to try this,” the official mentioned. It is essential to the administration, as outlined within the new U.S.-Africa technique, to speak to African companions on international points and listen to their perspective, “after which from that dialog, to have a simpler, considerate, inclusive coverage,” the official mentioned.
Different high priorities for each international locations that might come up embrace commerce, funding, infrastructure, local weather and power, and well being points, the official mentioned.
The official emphasised that the US has supplied $8 billion to South Africa since 2004 to combat HIV/AIDS and recommended the nation’s management within the international combat in opposition to the Covid pandemic.
Ramaphosa, 69, has served because the president of South Africa since 2018 and likewise is president of the African Nationwide Congress. He beforehand was the chairperson of the African Union and was the deputy president of South Africa.
