DA accuses ANC of double standards regarding US invasion of Venezuela

The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Tuesday once again bumped heads with the African National Congress (ANC) on the government’s foreign policy, accusing it of double standards in its approach to the United States' invasion of Venezuela over the weekend to oust President Nicolas Maduro.

Condemning the US’ actions at an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council on Monday, South Africa said the world superpower had flouted international law.

But the DA is calling out the ANC for not having adopted the same stance when Russia invaded Ukraine almost four years ago.

Since the formation of the Government of National Unity, the DA and ANC have failed to agree on what the coalition’s foreign policy approach should be.

DA member of Parliament and International Relations spokesperson, Ryan Smith, said by putting pressure on the United Nations to act against the US for its military action in Venezuela, it exposed contradictions and inconsistencies in the ANC’s diplomatic approach.

“One can only assume that the ANC has adopted a two-faced approach to South Africa’s foreign policy to protect its own party interests over the interests of South Africa. This is a gross betrayal of the values and principles enshrined in the South African Constitution,” said Smith.

Smith said for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) to claim that military invasions of sovereign states yielded only instability and deepening crisis was diplomatic cowardice when considering its position on the Russia-Ukraine war.

“This approach has rendered South Africa an inconsistent, unreliable, and unserious player on the international stage,” added Smith.

The DA has condemned what it believes to be the politicisation of DIRCO to pursue the ANC’s foreign policy agenda.