John James: “South Africa's Government has recently adopted a worrying path highlighted by its refusal to clearly oppose Putin's war…”

“South Africa's Government has recently adopted a worrying path highlighted by its refusal to clearly oppose Putin's war of aggression in Ukraine and its shameful decision to host Russia and China for naval exercises on the war's anniversary. I am a combat veteran. I have participated in both war games and war. Make no mistake, one is intended to prepare for the other. In hard times it is easy to be seduced by the siren song of isolationism. Allowing vacuums of American influence around the world to be filled with Chinese yuan and Russian lies is a threat to our American economy and security at home. We must speak softly and carry a big stick. And with our big stick, we must eliminate safe havens for terror organizations in Africa that would metastasize into direct threats to America in the Western Hemisphere; ensure that American-made goods both catalyze economic growth at home and help reduce long-term aid dependence in Africa; and eliminate slave labor in our battery supply chains starting with minerals stripped from Africa on the backs of Black children. In a world where America is no longer the only choice, we must return to being the most desirable choice. It is in our vital national interest to ensure that when nations like South Africa have a choice between China or the United States of America, they will always choose America first. ____________________”