South Africa and Germany have agreed to upgrade their bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership, marking a major outcome of the 12th German-South African Bi-National Commission (BNC) meeting held in Berlin, Germany, on Monday.
In a joint press statement issued by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), the two countries said the move will intensify high-level dialogue on strategic issues, including peace and security, multilateral cooperation and democratic resilience.
“Germany and South Africa will upgrade their relations to a Strategic Partnership to intensify their dialogue on strategic issues at the senior official level, including through consultation formats covering multilateral issues, conflict mediation, peace and security in Europe and Africa, regional cooperation, democratic resilience, cyber foreign policy and navy staff talks,” the statement read.
The meeting, co-chaired by International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola and his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul, also resulted in the signing of a Joint Action Plan consolidating outcomes across multiple sectors.
The two nations underscored the importance of stable partnerships between democratic middle powers amid global uncertainty.
“In the Joint Action Plan, the Foreign Ministers underscore that stable partnerships between middle power and democratic nations are essential in the current volatile international environment, in particular,” the joint statement said.
They further highlighted that cooperation between the countries is grounded in shared values, including a commitment to a rules-based international order guided by the United Nations Charter and international law, as well as the promotion of human rights.
“South African-German cooperation is founded on a shared commitment to the principles of a rules-based international order based on the Charter of the United Nations and international law, including the promotion and protection of human rights.
“The Foreign Ministers emphasised their shared belief that representative democracy is the most effective form of government when it comes to ensuring citizens’ freedom, security and prosperity,” the statement said.
The BNC meeting also delivered significant economic and development outcomes, including Germany’s pledge of a new €200 million concessional loan under the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) and technical cooperation to accelerate grid and renewables investments, backing South Africa’s continued pursuit of more ambitious climate targets.
In addition, the countries agreed to expand cooperation on green hydrogen and battery value chains, backed by more than €270 million in German and EU funding, and to strengthen collaboration on critical raw materials through new initiatives aimed at supporting mineral beneficiation.
Progress was also recorded in health, with enhanced cooperation on vaccine production to strengthen regional health security and foster innovation in the pharmaceutical sector.
On trade and investment, the two countries committed to intensifying cooperation, also to implement the EU-South Africa Clean Trade and Investment Partnership notably by addressing non-tariff barriers and regulatory issues and improving framework conditions for investors, for example in energy and transport infrastructure, through quarterly consultations between the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE).
The meeting further reinforced collaboration in education, skills development and youth employment, with expanded vocational training initiatives and academic cooperation.
Environmental protection and climate action also featured prominently, with both countries agreeing to strengthen cooperation on biodiversity, ocean protection, circular economy practices and combating environmental crimes.
The BNC, established in 1996 by former President Nelson Mandela and former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, remains the primary mechanism guiding bilateral relations between the two countries. – SAnews.gov.za
