Hillary Clinton in South Africa: Unpacking US-South Africa Relations

This report analyzes the multifaceted relationship between the United States and South Africa, highlighting economic cooperation through the US-South Africa Strategic Dialogue and the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), as well as defense and nuclear collaboration. It also examines points of tension, specifically regarding sanctions on Iran and South Africa's role in the BRICS bloc.

• The US-South Africa Strategic Dialogue, launched in April 2010, serves as an annual bilateral forum to reinforce cooperation across various key areas. A significant development in economic cooperation occurred in June 2012 with the signing of an amended Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) by US Trade Representative Ron Kirk and South African Minister of Trade Rob Davies to improve the trade and investment climate.
• The United States is South Africa's largest export destination. In 2011, American imports from South Africa were valued at US$9.5 billion, representing a 15.7 percent increase from 2010. Approximately US$4.6 billion of these imports entered duty-free under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which the US government announced plans to extend in June 2012.
• Defense and security cooperation is characterized by the Africa Contingency Operations Training and Assistance (ACOTA) programme and the activities of US Africa Command (AFRICOM). Despite initial South African opposition to AFRICOM in 2008, current cooperation is described as robust, featuring joint military exercises such as 'SOUTHERN ACCORD' in 2012.
• The two nations collaborate on non-proliferation and nuclear energy, including a 2009 bilateral agreement on research and development. Notably, the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation became the only company globally to produce medical radio isotopes on an industrial scale using a low-enriched uranium (LEU)-based process, with US assistance provided at the Safari research reactor in 2009.
• Significant diplomatic tensions exist regarding Iran and the BRICS bloc. South Africa imports approximately 25 percent of its oil from Iran, leading to friction over US sanctions; South Africa received a 180-day exception on June 11, 2012, to avoid sanctions on its financial institutions. Additionally, South Africa's membership in BRICS is viewed as a concern by Washington, particularly after the bloc discussed unseating the US dollar as the preferred international currency in March 2012.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2012). Hillary Clinton in South Africa: Unpacking US-South Africa Relations. https://saiia.org.za/research/special-report-hillary-clinton-in-south-africa-unpacking-us-south-africa-relations/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Hillary Clinton in South Africa: Unpacking US-South Africa Relations. 2012. https://saiia.org.za/research/special-report-hillary-clinton-in-south-africa-unpacking-us-south-africa-relations/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Hillary Clinton in South Africa: Unpacking US-South Africa Relations |date=31 July 2012 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/special-report-hillary-clinton-in-south-africa-unpacking-us-south-africa-relations/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2012hillary, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Hillary Clinton in South Africa: Unpacking US-South Africa Relations}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2012}, month = jul, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/special-report-hillary-clinton-in-south-africa-unpacking-us-south-africa-relations/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }