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South Africa scrambles to resolve diplomatic standoff with US

The article from MSN discusses a diplomatic standoff between South Africa and the United States, primarily centered around allegations of South Africa supplying arms to Russia, which has strained relations between the two countries. The U.S. Ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, accused South Africa of loading weapons onto a Russian ship, the Lady R, in December 2022, which South Africa has denied, stating that no arms were sold to Russia. This accusation has led to a significant diplomatic row, with South Africa's government expressing its displeasure and initiating an independent inquiry to investigate the claims. Amidst this tension, South Africa is attempting to resolve the issue to maintain its non-aligned stance in international conflicts, particularly in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine. The situation has implications for South Africa's trade relations, especially under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which provides duty-free access to the U.S. market for eligible African countries. South African officials are engaging in high-level talks to address the fallout and ensure that the diplomatic relations do not deteriorate further.

Read the Full MSN Article at:
[ https://www.msn.com/en-za/politics/government/south-africa-scrambles-to-resolve-diplomatic-standoff-with-us/ar-AA1yH7zN ]