JOHANNESBURG—The South African government says any “punitive action” taken against it by the Biden administration for Pretoria’s perceived support of Russia in its war against Ukraine would be based on “hysteria, hearsay, and contempt for South Africa’s sovereignty.”
The reaction comes after four powerful United States Congressmen from the Democratic and Republican Parties wrote a letter to senior Washington officials on June 9 effectively asking President Joe Biden to retaliate against South Africa.
The letter was addressed to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, and Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan.
It suggested that South Africa’s access to the U.S. government’s African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) be terminated….