{"id":2088432,"date":"2023-11-02T18:00:02","date_gmt":"2023-11-02T22:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/as-south-africa-cozies-up-to-russia-and-hamas-biden-admin-promotes-economic-forum-in-johannesburg\/"},"modified":"2023-11-02T18:01:54","modified_gmt":"2023-11-02T22:01:54","slug":"as-south-africa-cozies-up-to-russia-and-hamas-biden-admin-promotes-economic-forum-in-johannesburg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/as-south-africa-cozies-up-to-russia-and-hamas-biden-admin-promotes-economic-forum-in-johannesburg\/","title":{"rendered":"South Africa embraces Russia and Hamas, Biden admin promotes Johannesburg economic forum."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fas-south-africa-cozies-up-to-russia-and-hamas-biden-admin-promotes-economic-forum-in-johannesburg%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2088432&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<h2>South Africa&#8217;s Controversial Alliances and\u2062 the Biden Administration&#8217;s Participation in AGOA Forum<\/h2>\n<figure><figcaption>(Drew Angerer\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div>\n<p>The Biden administration is facing criticism for its involvement in an economic forum taking place in South Africa this week. The country has been strengthening its ties with Russia, China, Iran, and the terrorist\u200c group Hamas.<\/p>\n<p>Senator James Risch, ranking member \u2064of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed concerns about the administration&#8217;s support \u200bfor the African Growth and Opportunity Act Forum (AGOA). He argued that this endorsement is enabling South Africa to pursue policies\u2064 that undermine U.S. national security and foreign policy interests.<\/p>\n<p>South Africa has become \u200dan important ally for Russia, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/as-south-africa-cozies-up-to-russia-and-hamas-biden-admin-promotes-economic-forum-in-johannesburg\/\" title=\"South Africa embraces Russia and Hamas, Biden admin promotes Johannesburg economic forum.\">hosting\u200c joint military exercises earlier<\/a> this year. It has also developed connections\u2064 with\u2063 Iran and Hamas, which is\u200b currently engaged\u200d in conflict with Israel. By allowing South Africa \u200bto host the AGOA forum, the Biden administration is indirectly endorsing the country&#8217;s\u200b policies, potentially violating the requirements for \u2064membership\u200d in the trade pact.<\/p>\n<p>Senator Risch criticized \u200cthe administration for failing to communicate concerns about South Africa&#8217;s actions and urged Congress to take corrective action. The \u200cState Department and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative received a\u2063 letter \u2063from Risch, but \u2063declined to comment on it.<\/p>\n<p>Risch highlighted South Africa&#8217;s acceptance of Russian ships\u200b carrying weapons in its ports and its foreign\u200c minister&#8217;s communication with Hamas leader Ismail \u2064Haniyeh as evidence of\u200d the country&#8217;s efforts to undermine Israel. The senator argued that \u200bthe Biden administration&#8217;s silence and refusal \u2063to relocate the AGOA \u200bforum only serve to endorse South \u2062Africa&#8217;s current policies.<\/p>\n<p>Lawmakers from both parties have expressed concerns about the United States&#8217; trade relationship with South Africa, particularly in \u2062light of Hamas&#8217;s\u2063 recent attack on Israel. Risch emphasized the\u200b need for stricter eligibility criteria in the AGOA trade pact\u200d to prevent countries like South Africa from benefiting from preferential treatment.<\/p>\n<p>As Congress considers the reauthorization of AGOA, Risch called for\u2062 significant \u2063changes to its eligibility criteria. He criticized the administration for prioritizing commerce over principles and national security \u2064interests, which undermines the credibility of the United States as a strategic alternative.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> \u2064What are\u200c the potential risks and challenges to regional\u2062 stability and\u2063 American\u200d interests posed by South Africa&#8217;s\u200c alignment with Russia, China, Iran, \u200band Hamas?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  The African \u200dGrowth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)\u2062 Forum in South Africa, given the\u2062 controversial alliances of the host \u2063country.<\/p>\n<p>The\u2063 AGOA Forum,\u200b which \u2064takes place every two years, brings together African\u200d and American policymakers, business leaders, and civil\u2063 society representatives to \u200ddiscuss trade and economic cooperation. It aims to promote economic growth, development, and regional integration in Africa\u200b while\u2064 strengthening \u200btrade ties between the United States and African nations.<\/p>\n<p>However, South \u2062Africa&#8217;s recent alliances\u200d and partnerships have raised eyebrows\u2062 among critics and\u200d raised questions about \u2064the Biden administration&#8217;s decision to participate in \u2064the forum. The country&#8217;s alignment with Russia, China, Iran, and Hamas has drawn concern from those\u2064 who \u2063argue that these relationships could undermine regional stability and American interests.<\/p>\n<p>South Africa&#8217;s growing ties \u200bwith Russia are particularly alarming, given \u2064the country&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/a-member-of-cia-directors-team-attacked-with-havana-syndrome-case-in-india-report\/\" title=\"A Member Of CIA Director\u2019s Team Attacked With \u2018Havana Syndrome\u2019 Case In India: Report\">assertive foreign policy<\/a> and its interference in \u2064other nations&#8217; affairs. Russia&#8217;s involvement \u200bin conflicts\u2064 such as Syria, Ukraine, and the Caucasus region has raised concerns among \u2063Western countries, including the United \u2063States. The fear is that South Africa&#8217;s partnership with Russia could lead\u200c to \u200cthe spread of Russian influence in Africa, at the expense\u2064 of democratic values and stability.<\/p>\n<p>China&#8217;s involvement\u200b in\u2063 Africa is also a point\u200c of \u200dcontention. \u200cWhile China presents \u200citself as an economic partner, critics argue that its investments often\u200d come with stringent conditions and can lead to \u200da debt trap for African nations. Additionally, China&#8217;s human \u200crights record, concerns over\u2064 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senior-partners-at-firm-hired-to-review-lincoln-project-scandal-have-donated-thousands-to-group\/\" title=\"Senior Partners at Firm Hired to \u2018Review\u2019 Lincoln Project Scandal Have Donated Thousands to Group\">intellectual property theft<\/a>, \u2062and geopolitical ambitions have raised red flags for the international community.<\/p>\n<p>Iran&#8217;s relationship \u200cwith South Africa is seen as a potential threat to regional security and stability. The Iranian regime has been accused of supporting terrorist groups and destabilizing\u200b activities in the Middle East. South Africa&#8217;s cooperation with Iran raises \u200cconcerns about its commitment\u200c to countering terrorism and promoting regional peace.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, South \u200cAfrica&#8217;s alignment with Hamas, a designated terrorist group, is\u200c deeply troubling. Hamas has been involved in perpetuating violence and attacks against innocent civilians in Israel. Supporting such a \u2064group not only undermines\u200c peace \u2064efforts in the Middle East but \u200dalso raises questions about South Africa&#8217;s stance\u2064 on terrorism and human rights.<\/p>\n<p>Senator Risch&#8217;s concerns about the Biden administration&#8217;s participation\u2063 in the AGOA Forum\u2064 are \u200dvalid and deserve\u2062 serious consideration. While the forum provides an opportunity to discuss\u200b trade and economic cooperation, it is crucial to ensure that\u200c the \u200dparticipating countries uphold democratic values, human rights, and regional \u200bstability.<\/p>\n<p>The Biden administration should\u2064 use its participation in the AGOA Forum\u2064 as a platform \u2064to address these \u200dconcerns\u200d and engage\u200b in dialogue \u200dwith South Africa\u200b and other\u200c African nations. This dialogue\u200c should center\u2063 around the importance of aligning with countries that\u2064 uphold\u2062 democratic principles, promote peace and security, and adhere to international norms.<\/p>\n<p>By doing so, the\u2062 United States can encourage South Africa and\u200d other African\u2062 nations to reconsider their controversial alliances\u200d and \u2064work towards partnerships \u200dthat\u2064 foster\u2063 economic growth, development, and stability\u200c in the \u200cregion. It would also demonstrate\u2064 the Biden administration&#8217;s commitment to its foreign policy goals of promoting democracy, human rights, and American values abroad.<\/p>\n<p>In\u200b conclusion, \u200cSouth Africa&#8217;s controversial \u2063alliances with \u200dRussia, China, Iran, and Hamas raise concerns about the \u2062Biden administration&#8217;s participation \u2062in the AGOA Forum. While economic cooperation is important, it \u200bshould not come at \u200cthe expense of\u2064 democratic values, peace, \u2062and regional stability. The Biden administration should use\u2062 this forum as an opportunity to address these concerns and encourage South Africa and \u2064other African nations to \u2064reconsider their alliances in favor of partnerships that uphold democratic principles and promote regional security.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Biden administration faces criticism for endorsing an economic forum in South Africa, which has strengthened ties with Russia, China, Iran, and Hamas. Earlier this year, South Africa conducted wargames with Russia and engaged with Hamas during the Israel conflict. (Drew Angerer\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":117,"featured_media":2088434,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[544],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2088432","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-free-beacon"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2088432","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/117"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2088432"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2088432\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2088434"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2088432"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2088432"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2088432"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}