We Want A Deal With U.S Govt To Resolve Ongoing Dispute – Ramaphosa

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday said that he wanted to “do a deal” with U.S. President Donald Trump to resolve the ongoing dispute over his country’s land policy and genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

It would be recalled that the U.S. President cut financial assistance to South Africa in an executive order this month, citing disapproval of its approach to land reform and the ICJ case against Washington’s close ally.

Ramaphosa told a conference organised by U.S. bank Goldman Sachs in Johannesburg that he wanted the “dust to settle” after the executive order but that the longer-term goal was to go to Washington to mend relations.

Ramaphosa said, “We don’t want to go and explain ourselves. We want to go and do a meaningful deal with the United States on a whole range of issues.”

“I’m very positively inclined to promoting a good relationship with President Trump.”

The South African leader did not say what the deal could involve, only that it could touch on trade, diplomatic and political matters.

South Africa is not hugely dependent on U.S. aid, but some fear its preferential trade status under the U.S. African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) could be under threat with Trump in the White House.

The country tries to project itself as non-aligned in geopolitical conflicts, not tying its interests too closely to those of rival powers the United States, China and Russia.

But Trump has cited the ICJ case as an example of South Africa taking positions against Washington and its allies.