Des Erasmus
DIRCO has slapped down US Ambassador Brent Bozell after he accused South Africa of courting America’s adversaries, saying Pretoria’s non-aligned foreign policy must not be mistaken for neutrality or weakness.
“While the South African Government does not engage in public disputes with resident envoys, these remarks necessitate a clear reaffirmation of our guiding principles,” the international relations ministry said on Thursday.
“As a sovereign nation, South Africa pursues an independent foreign policy firmly anchored in the principle of non-alignment. Non-alignment must not be conflated with neutrality, we refuse to be drawn into geopolitical contestations or be pressured to take sides; instead, we prioritise inclusive dialogue, global peace, and our own national interests.”
The statement followed posts by Bozell on X in which he criticised South Africa for hosting Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Dr Saeed Khatibzadeh, while Deputy President Paul Mashatile was in Beijing for a working visit.
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