Congress of the US
Washington, DC 20510
Secretary Antony J. Blinken
U.S. Division of State 2201 C St. NW
Washington, D.C. 20520
Ambassador Katherine C. Tai
Workplace of the U.S. Commerce Consultant 600 seventeenth St. NW
Washington, D.C. 20006
The Honorable Jacob J. Sullivan
Nationwide Safety Advisor
The White Home
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW,
Washington, D.C. 20500
June 9, 2023
Expensive Secretary Blinken, Ambassador Tai, and Mr. Sullivan:
The African Development and Alternative Act (AGOA) is the cornerstone of the US’ financial relationship with Sub-Saharan Africa, enabling deeper business ties and strengthening U.S. relationships with the area. We strongly help this program, and help its reauthorization properly forward of its expiration in 2025. The annual AGOA Discussion board gives an necessary alternative for U.S. and African leaders to bolster financial and diplomatic relations, and we help your continued work to convene a discussion board in Africa this 12 months. Nevertheless, we want to specific severe considerations with present plans to host this 12 months’s AGOA Discussion board in South Africa.
South Africa’s authorities has formally taken a impartial stance on Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, however has deepened its navy relationship with Russia over the previous 12 months. Late final 12 months, a Russian cargo vessel topic to U.S. sanctions docked in South Africa’s largest naval port, and intelligence means that the South African authorities used this chance to covertly provide Russia with arms and ammunition that might be utilized in its unlawful struggle in Ukraine. In February, South Africa held joint navy workouts with Russia and China, and in April, approved a Russian navy cargo plane-also topic to U.S. sanctions- to land at a South African air power base. On prime of this, in August, South Africa will host the BRICS Summit the place the federal government goals to strengthen its ties with China and Russia and is working to facilitate the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, regardless of the excellent arrest warrant issued by the Worldwide Legal Courtroom (ICC).
We’re significantly involved that internet hosting the 2023 AGOA Discussion board in South Africa would function an implicit endorsement of South Africa’s damaging help for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and potential violation of U.S. sanctions legislation. Additional, these actions by South Africa name into query its eligibility for commerce advantages beneath AGOA as a result of statutory requirement that beneficiary international locations “not interact in actions that undermine United States nationwide safety or
