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PARIS — On Friday, 10 July 2026, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa met with French President Emmanuel Macron in France, marking a significant milestone in the evolving bilateral relationship between the two nations.
Delivering his opening remarks during the diplomatic engagement, Ramaphosa underscored an expanding strategic partnership across trade, energy, science, and defence, while framing the alliance as a vital mechanism for navigating current global geopolitical shifts.
Elevating Diplomatic and Educational Ties
A central outcome of the engagement was the formal upgrade of the South Africa–France Forum for Political Dialogue to a Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC). This institutional elevation follows President Macron’s state visit to South Africa in 2021 and was officially cemented with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by the nations’ respective Foreign Ministers.
Prior to the bilateral talks, Ramaphosa engaged in high-level global governance forums in Paris. He co-chaired the Leaders Group meeting of the High-Level Steering Committee on Education alongside the Director-General of UNESCO and attended the Transforming Education Summit +4. Ramaphosa described these sessions as productive and outcomes-oriented, emphasizing that global education forms the essential foundation for Agenda 2030.
Billions in Investment Pledges and Infrastructure Plans
The economic architecture between Pretoria and Paris continues to yield measurable results. Ramaphosa highlighted the success of the 6th South Africa Investment Conference held in Johannesburg in March 2026, noting a powerful showing by French corporations. Thirty French companies pledged approximately EUR 1.11 billion (ZAR 20,7 billion) in investments across various key economic sectors.
According to the South African President, these commitments signal rising confidence among French businesses in South Africa’s economic trajectory. Ramaphosa leveraged the address to position South Africa as an active market for international firms, pointing specifically to opportunities within the country’s upcoming mass infrastructure build—which he characterized as the largest in South Africa’s history.
Nuclear Energy, Science, and Defence Cooperation
The bilateral agenda also features a highly technical and strategic roadmap. Officials from both countries are currently negotiating multiple agreements, including a Draft Declaration of Intent on Mobility, an Agreement on Transport Related Matters, and a framework for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy.
In scientific collaboration, Ramaphosa congratulated France on becoming the 14th full member state of the intergovernmental Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO). This follows a productive Joint Committee Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation, which established priority areas for joint research in Artificial Intelligence (AI), oceans and marine sciences, water, and soil health.
Security and defence also saw a renewed commitment. The two sides agreed to convene the 13th Defence Strategic Dialogue in South Africa in October 2026. The long-overdue dialogue will review the existing MoU on Defence Cooperation and explore new areas of mutual strategic interest.
A Shared Defense of Multilateralism
Beyond bilateral mechanics, Ramaphosa utilized the platform to address pressing international anxieties. Citing a modern landscape fractured by wars, trade tensions, climate impacts, poverty, and systemic inequality, he issued a strong defence of the multilateral order.
“No country can resolve these issues in isolation,” Ramaphosa stated, calling for collective action rooted in the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law. He extended gratitude to France for its explicit support of South Africa’s ongoing G20 Presidency, which is convened under the theme of “Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability,” urging that the declarations made by the global body be fully realized.
The diplomatic working visit will conclude with a poignant nod to shared history. Ramaphosa noted that on the upcoming Sunday, he will preside over the commemoration of the Battle of Delville Wood at the Memorial in Longueval. Thanking the French government and citizens for maintaining the historic site, Ramaphosa concluded that the sacrifice of those at Delville Wood serves as a modern reminder that peace, freedom, and human dignity remain the permanent foundations of global cooperation.
