Lamola has cornered Europe as US tensions rise and Trump ignores G20

South Africa's International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola is using a visit to Germany and Spain to boost trade and economic diplomacy. Deepening relationships based on energy and skills As tensions with the US donald trump The administration is stepping up in Washington and Pretoria is being kept out of the G20.

South Africa secured €200m ($236m) of concessional loans and technical support for its renewable energy transition and grid infrastructure investments, but for Lamola, an agreement on vocational training would be just as important for the young country.

“We see this as a great opportunity to see how we can benefit from (German) insights as we review our vocational training, from schooling programs to relationships with industry,” he explains. Africa Report Following the German-South African Bi-National Commission meeting and business engagements in Berlin.

Professional training collaboration – from a joint expert group to lecturer development – ​​may seem technical or even trivial, but it comes at a critical moment. Youth Unemployment in South Africa The 15-34 age group accounted for 46.1% in the first quarter of 2025, according to Statistics South Africa, which notes that this group constitutes more than half of the working-age population, about 10.3 million people.

Pretoria is reviewing the vocational training approach through Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), which has faced parliamentary criticism over financial mismanagement and weak educational outcomes.

Lamola says German industry can “contribute to South African vocational training (because) Germany is famous for professional training”.

Strategic partnership with Germany

The agreements reached in Berlin have upgraded the relationship to a strategic partnership. Germany remains in the center South Africa's Just Energy TransitionBut the three-day visit from April 13 widened the scope from critical minerals and green hydrogen to science, culture and a shared commitment to human rights, peace, security and the rules-based order.

Lamola's stay in Berlin, followed by visit to Spain with the President Cyril Ramaphosa The talks with King Felipe VI and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez are part of a broader effort to retain South Africa's voice, though critics argue Pretoria is overstepping its diplomatic reach.

Engagement with Madrid, including at the Conference in Defense of Democracies, could be an easier diplomatic alignment as the two countries are close in their stances. Israel-Hamas war. Spain becomes the first European country to join in June 2024 South Africa's case against Israel in the International Court of Justice.

It has since taken a vocal stance not only on Gaza, but also on the bombing of Iran – with Sanchez calling the US-Israeli strikes a violation of international law. These conflicts were also discussed during the visit to Germany, although differences remain with Berlin, which faces domestic opposition over its support of Israel, opinion polls show.

Diplomatic engagement and negotiated solution

“We don't necessarily look at it (as Germany) in the same way, also on Palestine. But Germany respects our views, we respect theirs, and they are not imposing their views on us… unlike the US which wants to impose its views on our foreign and domestic policy as well,” Lamola says. “That's the difference with Germany, and also with the EU. Even where we have differences, we respect each other's views.”

Lamola reiterates the need for continued engagement, including iran warDescribing it as “disappointing”, the first Israel/US attack came while negotiations were still underway in Geneva over Tehran's nuclear programme.

Referring to South Africa's negotiated democratic transition, Lamola emphasizes patience and tolerance. “There is only one condition – dialogue, engagement and conversation.” He further said, Pretoria will continue to talk to all parties. As it happened with IranTurkey, Egypt and Pakistan, which has emerged as a key broker in efforts to maintain a fragile ceasefire in the conflict.

Strained relations with Washington

South Africa's diplomatic efforts come against a backdrop of rising tensions with the Trump administration, which has pulled Pretoria out of this year's G20 despite its founding member status. Washington boycotts summit to be held in Johannesburg in November 2025For the first time the gathering was held on African soil.

Tensions have risen after Trump falsely claimed discrimination against Afrikaans-speakers and white farmers, in particular, has plagued his administration. Grant refugee status to Africans From May 2025.

“We are excluded, yes. We cannot include ourselves in meetings. We are not recognized by Washington. We are still members of the G20, and We will continue to provide our input Where we are welcome… and we look forward to the UK G20 presidency (in 2027),” Lamola says.

South Africa will continue to contribute “where it is practically possible”, although this was not the case when G20 finance ministers met in Washington on 16 April. Without Enoch Godongwana of South Africa. South Africa was previously left out of the December 2025 Sherpa meeting.

G7 optics

Lamola played down the country's absence from the G7 in Evian-les-Bains, France in June, where Kenyan President William Ruto He has been invited in place of Ramaphosa, who was a regular attendee of this club of industrialized countries.

France rejects claims South Africa pulled out due to US pressureKenya's retention of the invitation was linked to the country's co-hosting of the Africa Forward summit in May for the first time outside Francophone Africa.

Lamola says it was up to the G7 presidency to issue the invitation. “When they invite us, we participate. We will not impose ourselves or demand to be invited.”

EU support and expectations

He says South Africa appreciated South Africa's G20 presidency and priorities and the support of Germany, most European countries and the EU for its role in the G20 as a founding member. This was expected to continue.

“The EU has been very supportive of us, and I think they've proven to be reliable partners. But, yes, we agree. We think they can do more, they can stand up for us more, especially when we Excluded from G20And we also stand firmly on the issue of rule of law, which is our shared value.”

For South Africa, maintaining partnerships in Europe will be critical in navigating complex and changing geopolitics while pursuing domestic social priorities and doubling down on economic diplomacy.