DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: SA - US BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP
Presentation by Acting Deputy
Director-General Americas and Europe, Ambassador G Grobler
19 September 2007 11:00 - 13:00
US Environmental Scan
·
US Foreign Policy
-
Bush Administration's foreign policy
driven by US national interests
-
These interests were shaped by 9/11, when Homeland Security became a
central force
-
Implementation of National Security Strategy
·
BUSH
DOCTRINE
-
proceeded to assert the right and intention to engage in
pre-emptive war
-
in response to perceived threats
·
“ War on Terror" a.k.a. "Long War”
-
especially the engagement of
pre-emptive war
-
weakened international and domestic
support
-
for President Bush and US action
against al-Qaeda
·
Primary driven by 3 factors:
-
Oil
-
the protection of Israeli interest
in Middle East
-
expansion of US military and
economic power
·
Bush Administration's Legacy
-
For the first time during its
Presidency, Bush is faced with a Democratic House and Senate
-
Faces strong Congressional
opposition and significantly greater oversight
-
Resurgence of the State Department
in US foreign policy arena; Transformational diplomacy part of "new
approach"
Evident in US' approach towards
countries such as North Korea and Iran
Evident in the format of Africom
US in Africa
"Africa's great size and diversity requires
a security strategy that focuses on bilateral engagement and builds
coalitions of the willing" [US
National Security Strategy, 2002]
·
Security concerns
- Terrorism
- HIV / AIDS
- Regional and intra-state
instabilities
- African oil resources
·
Diversification of the origin
of resources
|
US IMPORTS FROM THE WORLD |
||||||
|
$ "000 000" |
|
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|
|
|
Chapter 27 (Mineral Fuel, Oil etc
) |
|
|
|
|
|
Regions |
2005 |
Annual Growth |
2006 |
Annual Growth |
Share 2001 |
2005 |
|
Middle East |
40,665,005 |
19.82% |
47,918,283 |
15.14% |
17.26% |
14.35% |
|
North Africa |
13,116,997 |
37.76% |
19,269,337 |
31.93% |
2.38% |
5.77% |
|
sub-Saharan Africa |
40,680,931 |
34.91% |
48,145,567 |
15.50% |
11. 99% |
14.42% |
|
Total |
286,662,772,065 |
28.18% |
333,863,883,858 |
14.14% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
"US National Intelligence
Council predicts that within less than a decade the US will import more
hydrocarbons from the Gulf of Guinea than from the entire Middle East"
·
Trade opportunities
-
Minerals (uranium, copper, diamonds,
steel etc.) and future needs
-
China, India, Russia influence
-
Effect on the vulnerability and
volatility of supply
·
AGOA
·
US Initiatives
-
Millennium Challenge Account »
African Fund
-
US Initiatives
-
AGOA
-
PEPFAR
-
Woman Empowerment Initiative in
Africa
·
US comprehensive response
-
Africom
SA - US BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP
-
Good personal relationship between
leaders
-
Strong bilateral relationship
despite differences on a number of international
issues
-
Expansion of business, civilian and governmental links
-
US is
second largest market for SA goods
-
SA exports to US in 2006 amounted to
R41 billion (R11 billion increase from 1997)
-
SA imports from US in 2006: R35
billion
-
Trade balance in 2006 was R5 billion
in SA's favour
-
US FDI to SA is second largest after
UK. $5 billion (December 2004). 9% of total FDI
-
From 2005 - 2006 US tourist numbers
increased from 68 334 to 73 406, an increase of 7.4% [Sources: SA Customs and Tourism]
-
Annual Bilateral Forum
-
Areas for enhancement of
co-operation
Building peace and security
Expanding democracy and freedom
Spreading economic growth and
wellbeing
·
Conclusion
-
Economic co-operation excellent and expanding
-
Sound Government-to-Government
relations with some challenges on particular
issues
-
Vast potential for enhanced
co-operation on all levels