Former South African Ambassador Tony Leon has called for a “reevaluation and strategic engagement" with the US government following the ongoing diplomatic fallout between South Africa and the US.
In an interview with eNCA on Monday, Leon criticised the conduct of former ambassador Ebrahim Rasool, suggesting that personal opinions should not overshadow the responsibilities of diplomatic representation.
Rasool was expelled from the US after making remarks criticising the President Donald Trump administration and its foreign policy.
The US government accused Rasool of hating the Trump and his administration before declaring him persona non grata.
“For an ambassador to express personal opinions is problematic. An ambassador's role is to represent their country's interests, and if Rasool was instructed to attack the US administration, he was deviating from his primary duty. Diplomats must adhere strictly to government policy, regardless of personal beliefs.”
Leon acknowledged that the issues at hand extend beyond individual conduct and emphasised that South Africa’s foreign policy has not adapted to the shifting dynamics of international relations.
“Even if we had a diplomatic superstar, that person would still face challenges due to our current policies. We need to justify these policies to align with our national interests," he said.
When asked about the potential for diplomacy to mend relations following South Africa's legal actions against Israel, Leon was skeptical.
“At the moment, South Africa has chosen a particular alignment that complicates our relationship with the US,” he explained.
He pointed to the successful diplomatic engagement of South African labour leaders with US officials as a contrasting example of effective diplomacy.
Leon advocated for a more nuanced approach to diplomacy, avoiding confrontational tactics.
“There are ways to engage that don’t resort to megaphone diplomacy. We must explore the root causes of our differences and seek solutions.”
He further suggested that leveraging business opportunities could foster better relations.
Notably, he mentioned Elon Musk’s interest in bringing Starlink to South Africa despite the challenges posed by local ownership requirements under Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) laws.
“Musk has a product that would benefit South Africa tremendously, yet these regulations are hurdles for foreign businesses,” he stated.
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On the topic of South Africa's legal actions against Israel for the genocide in Gaza which resulted in the UN-backed International Criminal Court (ICC) issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant, together with a former Hamas commander, citing allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity, Leon deemed it “self-harming”.
He pointed out that the country must prioritise its economic relationships, particularly with the US, where numerous American companies are already invested.
“We have American companies operating here and thousands of jobs dependent on that relationship,” he stressed.
“We should ask ourselves: What can we do to create a more holistic relationship between the US and South Africa?”
Leon asserted that the role of an ambassador is not merely to voice opinions but to promote their country's interests effectively.
“Sometimes, you must hold your tongue, even if you have strong feelings about a subject. The primary job of an ambassador is to sell South Africa on the global stage.”
Furthermore, Leon urged South Africa to take this moment to reflect on its diplomatic agenda and its implications for economic growth and job creation.
He also emphasised that economic advancement and unemployment reduction should be the two primary metrics for assessing successful diplomacy.
While acknowledging that DA leader Helen Zille had nominated him for an ambassadorial position, Leon clarified, “I’m not seeking a job; I want South Africa to prioritise its growth and decide whether it needs to adjust policies that hinder economic progress.”
The South African government has said that it was working towards mending relations with the Trump administration.
IOL