Overview of South Africa’s Foreign Policy Presentation by the Department of Foreign Affairs June...

Overview of South Africa’s Overview of South Africa’s Foreign PolicyForeign Policy

Presentation by the Department Presentation by the Department of Foreign Affairsof Foreign Affairs

June 2007June 2007

SA’s Foreign Policy (FP)SA’s Foreign Policy (FP)

• SA’s FP has a dialectical link with the SA’s FP has a dialectical link with the country’s domestic priorities.country’s domestic priorities.

• SA’s FP incorporates economic SA’s FP incorporates economic diplomacy within the context of the diplomacy within the context of the Accelerated & Shared Growth Initiative Accelerated & Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (ASGISA).for South Africa (ASGISA).

SA’s FP Cont…SA’s FP Cont…

• SA’s commitment to the creation of an SA’s commitment to the creation of an African continent that is prosperous, African continent that is prosperous, peaceful, democratic, non-racial, non-peaceful, democratic, non-racial, non-sexist and united, which contributes to a sexist and united, which contributes to a world that is just and equitable. world that is just and equitable.


• What we strive to achieve for our country What we strive to achieve for our country is what we also strive to achieve for is what we also strive to achieve for Africa, countries of the South and for the Africa, countries of the South and for the global community.global community.


• Our FP is guided by the vision of “A Our FP is guided by the vision of “A Better SA, A Better Africa & A Better Better SA, A Better Africa & A Better World.”World.”

SA’s FP: PrinciplesSA’s FP: Principles

• That the interests of the African continent are That the interests of the African continent are central in our foreign policy;central in our foreign policy;

• That issues of human rights are central to That issues of human rights are central to international relations & an understanding international relations & an understanding that they extend beyond the political, that they extend beyond the political, embracing the economic, social and embracing the economic, social and environment;environment;

SA FP: Principles Cont…SA FP: Principles Cont…

• That just and lasting solutions to the problems That just and lasting solutions to the problems of humankind can only come through the of humankind can only come through the promotion of democracy world-wide;promotion of democracy world-wide;

• That consideration of justice and respect for That consideration of justice and respect for international law should guide the relations international law should guide the relations between & among nations;between & among nations;


• That peace is the goal for which all nations That peace is the goal for which all nations should strive, and that conflicts should be should strive, and that conflicts should be resolved through non-violent means;resolved through non-violent means;

• That multilateralism informs our interactions That multilateralism informs our interactions in the global sphere; &in the global sphere; &


• That economic development depends on That economic development depends on growing regional and international economic growing regional and international economic integration and cooperation in an integration and cooperation in an interdependent world.interdependent world.

SA’s Approach in the Implementation SA’s Approach in the Implementation of its Foreign Policyof its Foreign Policy

• Deepening of Bilateral relations; &Deepening of Bilateral relations; &

• Participation in Multilateral InstitutionsParticipation in Multilateral Institutions

SA’s FP: PrioritiesSA’s FP: Priorities

• Consolidation of the African Agenda;Consolidation of the African Agenda;• South-South Cooperation;South-South Cooperation;• North-South Dialogue;North-South Dialogue;• Global Security;Global Security;• Global Governance;Global Governance;

The above priorities are pursued within a The above priorities are pursued within a globalised world.globalised world.

Globalisation Globalisation

• Globalisation has become a predominant Globalisation has become a predominant force in international relations; force in international relations;

• It is creating immense opportunities of It is creating immense opportunities of growth & wealth creation for some, whilst growth & wealth creation for some, whilst producing an abundance of poverty for producing an abundance of poverty for millions of others;millions of others;

• Africa has benefited less & has suffered most Africa has benefited less & has suffered most from globalisation;from globalisation;

Globalisation Cont…Globalisation Cont…

• SA’s view is that the path of SA’s view is that the path of globalisation must change; globalisation must change;

• The challenge is to develop a strategy The challenge is to develop a strategy through integration & cooperation through integration & cooperation between & among the countries of the between & among the countries of the South to make the global agenda South to make the global agenda relevant to their needsrelevant to their needs

Consolidation of the African Consolidation of the African AgendaAgenda (CAA)(CAA)

– CAA entails the strengthening of the African CAA entails the strengthening of the African Union (AU), its structures & the Union (AU), its structures & the implementation of NEPAD; Pan African implementation of NEPAD; Pan African Parliament, ECOSSOC, PSC & PCRD. Parliament, ECOSSOC, PSC & PCRD.

– Southern African Development Community Southern African Development Community (SADC), foundation for SA’s regional, (SADC), foundation for SA’s regional, continental & international engagements;continental & international engagements;

African Agenda Cont…African Agenda Cont…

SADC’s Targets: SADC’s Targets:

• The formation of a Free Trade Area by 2008; The formation of a Free Trade Area by 2008;

• The completion of negotiations of the SADC The completion of negotiations of the SADC Customs Union by 2010; Customs Union by 2010;

• The completion of negotiations of the SADC The completion of negotiations of the SADC Common Market by 2015; Common Market by 2015;


• Diversification of industrial structures and Diversification of industrial structures and exports with more emphasis on value addition exports with more emphasis on value addition across all economic sectors by 2015; across all economic sectors by 2015;

• Sustain export growth rate of at least 5% Sustain export growth rate of at least 5% annually; annually;


• Increase in intra-regional trade to at least Increase in intra-regional trade to at least 35% by 2008; 35% by 2008;


– Protocol on the Facilitation of Movement of Protocol on the Facilitation of Movement of Persons in SADC;Persons in SADC;

– SADC Customs Union;SADC Customs Union;

– Gender Declaration;Gender Declaration;

– SADC BrigadeSADC Brigade


SADC Challenges:SADC Challenges:

– Effective implementation of the Regional Effective implementation of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP);(RISDP);

– Effective implementation of the Strategic Effective implementation of the Strategic Indicative Programme for the Organ on Indicative Programme for the Organ on Politics, Defense & Security Cooperation Politics, Defense & Security Cooperation (SIPO);(SIPO);


– AU’s Post Conflict Reconstruction & AU’s Post Conflict Reconstruction & Development Policy (PCRD);Development Policy (PCRD);

– SA participation to the United Nations SA participation to the United Nations Peace Missions: Democratic Republic of Peace Missions: Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia-Eritrea & Liberia;Congo (DRC), Ethiopia-Eritrea & Liberia;


– Tangible Dividends: DRC, Burundi, Tangible Dividends: DRC, Burundi, Liberia; & SudanLiberia; & Sudan

– Areas of engagement: Zimbabwe; Somalia; Areas of engagement: Zimbabwe; Somalia; Comoros; Ivory Coast; Darfur (Sudan) Comoros; Ivory Coast; Darfur (Sudan)


– AU Government: Towards A United States AU Government: Towards A United States of Africa;of Africa;

– Bilateral Relations within Africa: 43 Bilateral Relations within Africa: 43 Missions;Missions;

– SA’s increase in trade opportunities;SA’s increase in trade opportunities;

Challenges to the African Challenges to the African Agenda…Agenda…

• Lack of coordination by SA’s departments in Lack of coordination by SA’s departments in PCRD;PCRD;

• Perceptions of SA as a hegemon in Africa;Perceptions of SA as a hegemon in Africa;

• Lack of capacity to beneficiate African Lack of capacity to beneficiate African resourcesresources

• SA’s business conduct within the Continent; &SA’s business conduct within the Continent; &

• Scramble for Africa’s natural resources; Scramble for Africa’s natural resources;

South-South Cooperation (SSC)South-South Cooperation (SSC)

– SSC is a strategy to address the SSC is a strategy to address the challenges of economic & political challenges of economic & political marginalisation of the South;marginalisation of the South;

– SA’s participation to the Non-Aligned SA’s participation to the Non-Aligned Movement, G77 + China, China-Africa Movement, G77 + China, China-Africa Forum, India-Brazil-South Africa Forum, India-Brazil-South Africa Dialogue Forum & New Asia-Africa Dialogue Forum & New Asia-Africa Strategic Partnership;Strategic Partnership;

SSC Cont…SSC Cont…

• South-South formations are critical as vehicles South-South formations are critical as vehicles for socio-economic development;for socio-economic development;

• Increased interaction with Latin America & Increased interaction with Latin America & the Diaspora;the Diaspora;

North-South DialogueNorth-South Dialogue

• Premised on the notion of forging Premised on the notion of forging partnerships & bringing about peace, partnerships & bringing about peace, security and development in the South;security and development in the South;

• Aimed at making substantial progress Aimed at making substantial progress towards achieving the UN MDGstowards achieving the UN MDGs

North-South Dialogue Cont…North-South Dialogue Cont…

SA-EU Strategic Partnership Joint Action SA-EU Strategic Partnership Joint Action Plan;Plan;

The EU & Africa: Towards a Strategic The EU & Africa: Towards a Strategic Partnership;Partnership;

Expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation to Africa;Organisation to Africa;

US Africa Command (AFRICOM)US Africa Command (AFRICOM)

Global Security Global Security

–Uni-polar World (US Hegemony);Uni-polar World (US Hegemony);

–Challenge to the uni-polar by the Challenge to the uni-polar by the emergence of a multi-polar world;emergence of a multi-polar world;

–Middle East Peace Process;Middle East Peace Process;

– Iraq; Iraq;

Global SecurityGlobal Security Cont…Cont…

– Iran Nuclear Stand off;Iran Nuclear Stand off;

–North Korea;North Korea;

–Terrorism; &Terrorism; &

–SA’s Chairperson of the Nuclear SA’s Chairperson of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (2007-8)Suppliers Group (2007-8)

Global GovernanceGlobal Governance

• Democratisation of the UN, UNSC & Democratisation of the UN, UNSC & Bretton Woods Institutions;Bretton Woods Institutions;

• 2007-8 SA’s UN Security Council Non- 2007-8 SA’s UN Security Council Non- permanent Seat; permanent Seat;

THANK YOUTHANK YOU

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Overview of South Africa’s Foreign Policy Presentation by the Department of Foreign Affairs June...

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