Relationship dossier
Germany
South Africa
Relationship assessment
A broad partnership in development, trade, and climate policy, alongside notable differences on international issues
Germany toward South Africa
+40The German government supports development cooperation with South Africa and engages it through the bilateral Binational Commission and strategic partnership, including cooperation on climate and energy. Germany also intervened in the International Court of Justice case brought by South Africa against Israel, opposing South Africa’s position.
South Africa toward Germany
+35The South African government participates in the bilateral Binational Commission and strategic partnership with Germany, using these frameworks for political dialogue and cooperation on development, trade, and climate and energy policy. South Africa’s legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice has also been a source of disagreement with Germany.
Overall relationship
+35The enduring relationship is supported by institutionalized political dialogue and cooperation across development, trade, and climate and energy policy. Germany’s intervention against South Africa’s position in the International Court of Justice case concerning Israel highlights a significant international-policy disagreement, but does not eclipse the broader cooperative framework.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Germany and South Africa maintain a substantial partnership spanning political consultations, development cooperation, trade, and climate and energy policy. A bilateral Binational Commission and a strategic partnership provide durable frameworks for cooperation. Relations also face strain from differing positions on international issues, notably Germany’s intervention in the International Court of Justice proceedings initiated by South Africa against Israel.
Areas of tension
- Germany opposed South Africa’s position in the International Court of Justice proceedings against Israel.
- South Africa’s approach to the Russia-Ukraine war differs from Germany’s strong support for Ukraine.
Key developments
Germany and South Africa established a Binational Commission to structure bilateral political dialogue and cooperation.
The two governments elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership.
Germany intervened in the International Court of Justice case brought by South Africa against Israel, opposing South Africa’s position.
Major uncertainties
- The current scope and implementation of bilateral development and climate cooperation are unclear.
- The extent to which disagreements over international issues affect broader bilateral cooperation is uncertain.