House Chair and hon members, South Africa's foreign policy on the African Agenda is about to experience formidable challenges in the unstoppable convergence on the African continent of international trade regimes that are fuelled primarily by great power, ambition, competition, domination and nationalism.
The Euro-Atlantic sphere that is dominated and led by the United States will become more aggressive in pursuing the Trans-Atlantic economic hegemony to secure the national collective interest. So will the Asian sphere that is dominated and led by China, as it breaks the traditional mould of its foreign policy, as it was once commanded by its national leader, Deng Xiaoping in 1980, when he said, and I quote:
China should disguise its ambition and hide its claws.
... or the mild version of this, "keep a cool head and maintain a low profile".
On the other hand, Russia moves in rejection of the Cold War settlement as a ploy by the United States and Europe, causing it to surrender at the time when it was at its weakest. It is a historic fact that the post-war nuclear arms race weakened the Soviet economy and reduced it to a mere national power. By so doing, it now set its geopolitical ambitions at being a regional and an international power once more.
Against this canvas, South Africa and the rest of the African continent will need perceptive leaders, and good domestic and foreign policies in order to survive the negative effects of the coming great power, ambition and ruthless economic competition. Africa needs a leadership that will be vigilant against the possible erosion of a political and economic sovereignty of the African states.
It is an empirical fact that in most instances the one who is economically strong authors the terms and rules of trade, and too often in their favour. For this reason, we must commend and encourage the approach adopted by the Ministry and the Department of Trade and Industry in prioritising and strengthening the growth of local manufacturing and production to underpin true economic sovereignty and the promotion of fair and reciprocal trade relations.
It is important for Africa's honour and survival that the socialist and capitalist economic systems are given the African character to flourish on the African soil. However, the slow pace in regional economic integration and development on the part of the Southern African Development Community, SADC, and the serious neglect of inter-African trade are leaving the African continent with weak leverage for economic bargaining for its own markets. Such developments may lead to what Robert Kagan has predicted for the fate of the world's poor nations in his book The Return of History and The End of Dreams.
The incongruence that currently exists in the domestic and foreign policy of South Africa makes the identification and consolidation of the country's national interest elusive. The debate to determine precisely what the national interests of South Africa are continues.
In the domestic sphere, education, health, economic development, the fight against crime, etc, seem to be the preferred pointers, whereas the country's economic wellbeing, human rights, international peace and co- operation, the rule of law, and international morality are amongst some of the preferred determinants of the country's foreign policy. Therefore, the IFP proposes a national forum to determine, prioritise and consolidate the country's realistic national interest. I thank you. [Applause.]