Newscenter Media News Ongoing cuts by the United States (US) under President Donald Trump could mean the fifth Exercise Shared Accord may not take place this year.
As with previous Shared Accords the 2025 iteration was scheduled to concentrate on humanitarian efforts with civil/military co-operation (CIMIC) this time around centred on the Free State province come August.
While not mentioned specifically, a US Department of State memo dated 13 March and titled “Suspension of Department of State-funded military assistance to the government of South Africa”, notes a halt to foreign aid or assistance “delivered or provided” to President’s Cyril Ramaphosa’s government to “the maximum extent of the law”. The memo was addressed to Aaron Harding, the Chief Financial Officer of the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DCSA).
Affected is US International Military Education and Training (IMET), with the memo stating “there should be no new obligations of IMET funds for South Africa.” South African military personnel currently enrolled at US military training and higher education facilities and institutes as part of IMET, according to the memo, should not remain in the US to complete training and should be sent home as soon as possible.
No Foreign Military Financing (FMF) will be allocated to South Africa. “Uncommitted FMF should remain uncommitted (i.e. not be placed on a Foreign Military Sales case). Any case amendments or modifications should remain paused and not completed, and the financial implementation of all cases should remain suspended,” the memo continued.
“The provision of any equipment, training, or other assistance funded with FMF should not be provide to the Government of South Africa regardless of whether funds have already been expended,” the memo said, adding that “any FMF-funded students from the Republic of South Africa currently enrolled in training in the United States should not remain in the United States to complete training and should be sent home as soon as possible.”
Foreign Military Sales (FMS) are not impacted by the suspension of state-funded military assistance as Foreign Military Sales “remain a crucial component of the administration’s policy”.
Existing state-funded PKO (Peacekeeping Operations) programmes done through US Department of Defense (DoD) inter-agency agreements remain on the can be done list as long as the agreement has the approval of State and the US DoD. However, the US will not obligate any new peacekeeping operations funds to the DoD for South Africa.
Mid-March saw the main planning conference for Exercise Shared Accord 2025 held at 44 Parachute Regiment, Tempe outside Bloemfontein. Exercise planners from the SA National Defence Force (SANDF), the US military’s Southern Europe Task Force-Africa, the New York National Guard, the US Air Force (USAF) and the US Embassy in South Africa were present.
Exercise Shared Accord 2025 was set to have veterinary care and services as its prime objective. Aims included ensuring improved animal health services in selected areas, providing critical veterinary services, enhancing training and building capacity in local communities. These were to be met by way of veterinary outreach; knowledge and training exchange, as well as biosecurity and disease prevention, by way of “enhancing preparedness for animal disease outbreaks and preventing zoonotic diseases that could impact both animal and human populations,” according to SANDF Joint Operations.
Post the planning conference the SANDF Joint Operations Division said Shared Accord 2025 “promises to enhance veterinary readiness, animal health and military co-operation” by way of collaboration between the SANDF, the US military and “key stakeholders”.
African Defence Review Director Darren Olivier on Monday said that at least for now, it appears Shared Accord 2025 will go ahead. He added that he was not aware of any US peacekeeping funding for South Africa, so that should have no impact.
“The one positive to take out of this is that SA-funded FMS purchases, which SA uses to acquire spare parts of the C-130BZ fleet amongst others, can continue,” Olivier noted.
Defence expert Dean Wingrin pointed out that while the US decision is “a big blow for South Africa and the South African National Defence Force, it should not materially impact the day-to-day activities of the SANDF, but could lead to training disruptions.”
It is understood that South Africa currently only has one military student in the US, who must return to South Africa, he said.
Relations between the United States and South Africa are strained, marked by significant diplomatic and economic tensions, including the US expelling South Africa’s ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool, following his criticism of Trump.
The US has suspended all foreign aid to South Africa, including the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) funding. There is a threat to revoke South Africa’s access to the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which provides duty-free trade access to the US market.
South Africa’s decision to take Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over allegations of genocide has been met with disapproval from the US, which supports Israel. South Africa’s close relationships with countries like Russia, China, and Iran are viewed unfavourably by the US, and Trump has criticized South Africa’s Expropriation Act, claiming it targets white Afrikaners, though the act does not specifically mention them.
The potential loss of AGOA benefits and other economic sanctions could significantly impact South Africa’s economy, which is already facing challenges like high unemployment.
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