The Ukraine war recently caused differences of opinion between Germany and South Africa. But there was little sign of this during Foreign Minister Baerbock’s visit to Pretoria. Even if differences became clear.
Despite differences in content, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was warmly welcomed by her counterpart Naledi Pandor during her visit to South Africa. After there was irritation in the past about the Russian war against Ukraine because Pretoria did not clearly condemn Moscow, this was not a matter of course.
At the meeting in Pretoria, both states agreed to expand their cooperation as great democracies in the fight against international crises. “When the country speaks out against injustice from Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutus, the world listens,” Baerbock said. Together they want to continue to stand up for law and justice “in the most different corners of the world”.
“This war is not only a European one”
Baerbock called for South Africa to do even more to end Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. “This war is not only a European one, it also concerns Africa,” said Baerbock. Pandor defended her country’s abstentions on Ukraine votes at the United Nations. South Africa had declared itself neutral in the conflict.
South Africa announced that it intends to continue the peace initiative of seven African countries. Both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Putin promised to meet again with African leaders after a delegation visited Kiev and St. Petersburg in mid-June.
Baerbock also pointed out the effects of the war on the African continent. “We have all experienced how inflation and the energy crisis have hit people in our countries badly in recent years. In many African countries in particular, food prices have meanwhile risen to unaffordable levels,” said the Greens politician.
Meeting with Head of State Ramaphosa
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa also received Baerbock – this was considered a sign of special appreciation. According to the Federal Foreign Office, their conversation lasted 75 minutes instead of the originally planned 30 minutes. Because of the meeting with Ramaphosa, Baerbock’s planned final visit to a vanadium mine northwest of Pretoria was canceled. According to the Federal Foreign Office, the hard heavy metal vanadium is also needed to produce sustainable batteries.