Washington DC, 25 December 2021 (TDI): The United States (US) Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken called South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor. Both officials discussed topics related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The two discussed the announcement on the lifting of travel restrictions imposed on South Africa after their scientists discovered a new variant of COVID-19 named Omicron. It was the South African scientist that discovered first the Omicron Variant on November 24.
During the call, the US Secretary thanked the South African scientists and government for their transparency and expertise. Blinken also emphasized the importance of longstanding cooperation between the United States and South Africa to fight the pandemic.
On the 29 of November, the United States announced a travel ban to different countries of Africa such as South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, and Malawi. The Travel Ban was supposed to end by the start of New Year’s Eve, but the US will lift the restrictions soon.
Leaders of Southern Africa and the World Health Organization (WHO) criticized the restrictions put by the US and other countries in Europe also put travel bans; saying that it is unfair and will affect their economies.
The White House Assistant Press Secretary Kevin Munoz stated that the restrictions gave the US time to understand Omicron and know that the existing vaccines work against Omicron.
US and South Africa Relationship
The United States and South Africa are partners with solid connections and history. Both collaborate in health, education, the environment, and the digital economy.
The cooperation of these two countries relies on three principal sectors. Both cooperate in US assistance, economic relations, and multilateral cooperation. First, the US assistance in South Africa aims at improving health care, increasing education, agriculture, energy, food security, and more.
Secondly, regarding the economic relationship, there are 600 hundred US companies in South Africa, and the two have trade agreements that help the exchange between them. For instance, there is the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA ) and more.
Thirdly, both cooperate in a multilateral dimension with other states and international organizations. For instance, both are member states of the United Nations (UN), World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), G-20, and the World Trade Organization (WTO).