President Cyril Ramaphosa has touched down in Washington, D.C. for what insiders are calling one of the most consequential diplomatic missions of his presidency. On Wednesday, May 21, he’s set to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House—with tech, trade, and tension all on the agenda.
According to sources close to the discussions, Ramaphosa will push for major business opportunities tied to Elon Musk’s companies, specifically:
- Favorable trade terms for Tesla vehicles and infrastructure in South Africa
- Licensing and operational approval for Starlink, Musk’s satellite internet service, to address rural connectivity gaps
The visit also carries a larger goal: to repair frayed U.S.–South Africa relations, which have deteriorated sharply over the past year. Tensions escalated after:
- Trump’s public condemnation of South Africa’s land reform policies
- South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice
- The U.S. granting refugee status to 49 white Afrikaners, a move Pretoria slammed as “baseless and politically motivated”
- The expulsion of South Africa’s ambassador to the U.S., intensifying diplomatic strain
President Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, confirmed the meeting’s objective:
“This visit is about resetting a relationship that’s crucial to both countries. We’re focused on trade, technology, and mutual growth.”
The U.S. remains South Africa’s second-largest trading partner, making this meeting more than symbolic—it’s economically strategic. However, observers warn that the atmosphere could be tense and unpredictable, given Trump’s hardline rhetoric and history of unfiltered diplomacy.
