Trump’s ambassador pick for South Africa unveils plans

United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump’s pick for Ambassador to South Africa, Leo Brent Bozell III, has revealed his priorities for the U.S.’ top job in the country if confirmed.

Addressing the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last week, Bozell, who was picked by Trump earlier this year, said that it is “a challenging time in U.S.–South Africa relations.”

“The President has expressed serious concerns about issues in South Africa that have gone unaddressed for too long.”

“When people and businesses in South Africa feel their private property rights are at risk, when many South Africans feel unsafe in their homes, when corruption and unfair business practices hinder the economy.”

And, “when some politicians cultivate ties with actors that threaten global peace and security, finding common ground between our two countries becomes more difficult,” he added.

According to Bozell, if confirmed, his priorities would be:

Diplomatic and Strategic Goals

• Address South Africa’s perceived alignment with Russia, China, and Iran.
• Urge South Africa to end proceedings against Israel at the International Court of Juctice and encourage the ICC to halt related cases.

Domestic and Human Rights Goals

• Advocate for the protection of private property rights.
• Support Afrikaners wishing to leave due to perceived “racial discrimination.”
• Promote safety and stability.

Economic and Trade Goals

• Encourage fair trade practices and reduced barriers for U.S. businesses.
• Strengthen economic ties to support growth and prosperity in both countries.

“South Africa is our largest trading partner on the African continent, and more than 500 U.S. businesses in South Africa employ over 250,000 South Africans,” said Bozell.

“I take seriously my responsibility for ensuring the safety of the nearly 400,000 American citizens who annually visit South Africa and for the care of the hardworking diplomats at our U.S. embassy and consulates.”

“It is essential to actively engage on areas of disagreement while seeking opportunities to foster mutual benefit. I see the real opportunity for a lasting partnership,” he added.

South Africa and the US have seen tension escalate since Trump came back into office earlier this year.

The South African government has consistently denied accusations from the U.S., including the administration punting the notion of a genocide against the Afrikaans population.

South Africa has long been engaging to reset and revitalise relations with one of its largest trading partners.

According to the South African government, “leaders agreed to strengthen bilateral trade ties, increase investments for mutual benefit and forge collaboration in technological exchanges.”

Who is Brent Bozell?

Bozell, from Virginia, holds a BA in history from the University of Dallas and has long been active in conservative politics.

He comes from a family of public servants: his parents, L. Brent Bozell Jr. and Patricia Buckley Bozell, were conservative activists and writers, and his uncle, William F. Buckley Jr., was a leader of the modern conservative movement.

Another uncle, James L. Buckley, served as a U.S. senator, federal judge, and undersecretary of state.

Bozell began his career at the now-defunct National Conservative Political Action Committee, working with founder Terry Dolan to support conservative candidates.

He later led several political organizations, including the National Conservative Foundation project at the Conservative Political Action Conference.

A staunch media critic, Bozell founded the Media Research Center, an agency that critiques perceived liberal media bias, which led to projects such as CNSNews.com.

He has also written numerous books, including Unmasked: Big Media’s War on Trump.

Despite his partisan work, Bozell has participated in bipartisan initiatives, such as monitoring elections in Nicaragua and Guatemala.