CAPE TOWN (CHATNEWSTV) — Leaders of South Africa and the European Union reaffirmed their commitment to a strategic partnership Thursday, pledging to uphold democracy, human rights, and sovereignty in the face of rising geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty.
In a joint declaration following the EU-South Africa Summit, the leaders emphasized the importance of multilateral cooperation to address shared global challenges.
“Our meeting took place against the backdrop of rising geopolitical and geo-economic competition and instability, heightened conflict, deepening inequality, increasing global economic uncertainty, and fragmentation, as well as the climate emergency,” the statement read. “We underscored our belief in multilateral cooperation to collectively address shared challenges.”
The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to international law, including the United Nations Charter, stressing the need for peaceful settlements of disputes and the prohibition of force to alter territorial integrity or sovereignty.
“We further reaffirmed that all states must act in a manner consistent with the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter in its entirety, which includes the prohibition of the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition,” the declaration stated.
The summit also addressed key conflicts worldwide, with both parties agreeing to support a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and other conflict zones.
“Guided by these principles, we support a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in Ukraine, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and other major wars and conflicts around the globe,” the statement said.
The EU and South Africa have maintained strong diplomatic and economic ties, with the partnership focusing on trade, climate action, and global security. The latest summit reinforced their alignment on pressing global issues, despite the broader geopolitical challenges facing both regions.
