| Publication |
2012.
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| Summary/Abstract |
It becomes clear when analyzing American and South African foreign policy that both countries aim to promote and achieve stability throughout the African continent. Often a necessary component to reach this stability is a military presence to help restore peace during and after conflicts. Therefore, positive military cooperation between both countries would appear to be a simple equation where both would immediately agree. However, this has often not been the case. This paper analyzes this defense relationship from when the ANC-led South African government took power in 1994 until the present day Obama and Zuma administrations. It argues that despite numerous related disagreements throughout the Mandela and Mbeki years, the US-South African defense relationship has expanded. Moreover, this paper concludes that this expansion has escalated since former South African president Thabo Mbeki left office in late 2008. It is not only in America's and South Africa's best interest to see this cooperation expand even further, but in Africa's interest as well.
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