Dialogue on Major South African Foreign Policy Trends and Issues of 2017 – 23 March 2017

This workshop sought to address two main concerns, namely:

• What are likely to be the key items on SA’s Foreign Policy agenda for 2017?
• What are some of the key trends and considerations likely to inform the country’s international engagements in 2017? 

This workshop was a continuation of SALO’s well-received annual South African foreign policy outlook dialogues, now in its third year. Each year a high profile individual is selected to deliver the keynote areas for this flagship dialogue series, which provides an informed outlook of the ‘form and shape’ South African that foreign policy might assume in 2017. 

The international environment in 2017 is likely to continue to be characterised by change and uncertainty, as evidenced by contemporary political and economic events. These will undoubtedly impact South Africa’s foreign policy.

For 2017, DIRCO Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane has indicated that key to South Africa’s foreign policy priorities and objectives will be “accelerating our economic diplomacy efforts, creating new trade opportunities aimed at opening market access, increasing investment and deepening existing economic ties”.

Minister Mashabane has also pointed out that the African continent will remain high on the agenda of South Africa’s engagements with other partners across the globe.