After a visit to Senegal, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) travels to South Africa. There he meets his colleague Naledi Pandor, among others. Europeans should not ‘moralize’ and ‘point fingers’, Schallenberg said.
“So we would lose the Global South. We need to be more present there.” Austria is currently represented with embassies in a fifth of the 54 African countries. “Even if we see some things diametrically different when it comes to Russia’s war of aggression, the following still applies: Europe must move away from finger-pointing and towards more pragmatism. Being open to the views of our counterparts is the first step,” said Schallenberg.
South Africa has a tense relationship with the West, historically due to colonialism and support for the apartheid regime. The country is also a member of the so-called BRICS countries, which see themselves as a counter-model to the Western world. In the recent past, joint naval maneuvers with China and Russia off the South African coast have been criticized. The South African government was also suspected of shipping weapons to Russia.
Another conflict with the West could be the attitude towards the war in the Middle East. Research shows that the majority of the black population in particular believes that the Israeli government is pursuing an ‘apartheid policy’ towards the Palestinian population. This is the name given to the political system of ethnic separation in the second half of the 20th century. The population of South Africa was divided into several groups.
Business delegation travels with us
Schallenberg will likely explain the Austrian position on the war in Ukraine, as well as trade issues. He is accompanied by a delegation from the Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ). South Africa’s economic growth was 1.9 percent in 2022. Nearly a third of all Austrian exports go to South Africa and over a third of all African imports come from the country. According to the WKÖ, companies in the renewable energy sector, water and wastewater treatment systems and private healthcare currently have good prospects.
Schallenberg will, among other things, participate in an economic forum, meet Minister of Economic Affairs Ebrahim Patel and visit ‘Constitution Hill’, where the South African Constitutional Court is now located. It used to be a prison complex for political prisoners such as freedom fighter Nelson Mandela.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
