One of the first jobs of a diplomat is not to make a situation worse. Sometimes picking fights is appropriate, and sometimes it can lead to unnecessary drama.
The latter is what seems to be happening with U.S. diplomats in South Africa. Last week, U.S. Ambassador Reuben Brigety alleged that the South African government delivered weapons to a U.S.-sanctioned Russian cargo vessel that docked in Simon’s Town naval base last December. The career U.S. diplomat, who was once the top U.S.
It’s not like Brigety was going off the reservation. The story of a Russian vessel docking on the South African coast was disclosed in the Wall Street Journal about a month after it happened, and U.S. officials registered their concerns at the time that something nefarious may have gone on. Even so, there is something a bit odd about this episode.
One suspects, however, that the apologies and acts of contrition have something to do with the fact that America’s man in Pretoria aired dirty laundry in such a public fashion. It’s one thing to express concern at a State Department briefing — it’s another thing entirely for an ambassador to speak to local journalists and all but accuse his hosts of a covert scheme to arm Russia's war effort.
Making matters worse, U.S.-South Africa relations are already a bit testy these days. The U.S. doesn’t appreciate the fact that South Africa has abstained from U.N. resolutions condemning Russia for its invasion, allowed Russian and Chinese warships to use its waters for military exercises in February, and continues to argue for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine.
But it’s exactly when bilateral relations are tense that leaders on both sides need to be careful with their words. The Biden administration’s slight rollback suggests they arrived at this conclusion a little too late.Daniel DePetris is a contributor to the Washington Examiner's Beltway Confidential blog. His opinions are his own.
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