South African President Cyril Ramaphosa publicly criticized the United States' military intervention in Venezuela during a memorial event on Tuesday, calling it a violation of international law. His remarks, delivered in front of a Venezuelan flag, highlighted growing tensions within South Africa's Government of National Unity and strained relations with Washington.
"We utterly reject the actions that the United States has embarked upon and stand with the people of Venezuela," Ramaphosa stated, urging the UN Security Council to take "decisive action." His condemnation follows reports of Nicolás Maduro's forcible removal by US forces, though details remain unverified.
Coalition partners swiftly rebuked the president's stance. The Democratic Alliance (DA) accused the ruling African National Congress (ANC) of hypocrisy, citing its silence on Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Freedom Front Plus criticized the foreign ministry's statement as "politicized" while welcoming Maduro's ouster as "the end of socialist failure."
The controversy unfolds amid ongoing US-South Africa disputes, including trade tariff threats and Pretoria's ICJ case against Israel. Analysts warn escalating diplomatic friction could jeopardize economic ties, with implications for key sectors like mining and manufacturing.
