Johannesburg, March 26 (NationPress) Following US President Donald Trump's nomination of Leo Brent Bozell III as Ambassador to South Africa amid rising tensions between the two nations, analysts interpret this swift appointment as an indication that the Trump administration is eager to engage with South Africa.

Local political analyst Sandile Swana remarked on Wednesday that Bozell is expected to be present on the ground to "challenge South Africa" regarding policies that the US administration opposes.

"The rapidity of this appointment, arriving immediately after the expulsion of former Ambassador to the United States Ebrahim Rasool, conveys a message to South Africa that the US seeks engagement. However, it's important to note that when Americans negotiate, they often do so while being aggressive," he stated.

This nomination has been significantly quicker than Trump's prior appointment of an Ambassador to South Africa. While Trump took office in January 2017, he only nominated Lana Marks in November 2018, with her official confirmation occurring in September 2019.

Since January, tensions between the United States and South Africa have intensified. This has led to US officials missing G20 meetings in South Africa and the expulsion of South Africa's Ambassador to the United States.

Swana noted several issues that the United States is eager to discuss with South Africa. "Currently, South Africa has two ongoing cases, one being the genocide case against Israel, which has made significant progress. I estimate that the Americans do not want this case to reach a final ruling. Even with the prima facie ruling, they have already lost the moral high ground," he explained.

Bozell III lacks diplomatic experience and is primarily recognized as a conservative writer and media critic, according to reports from Xinhua news agency. On Monday, the White House formally submitted his nomination to the US Senate for approval.

Patrick Lukusa Kadima, an expert in international law, global geopolitics, international cooperation, and multilateralism at Wits University, told Xinhua that he doubts the nominated Ambassador will effectively alleviate tensions between the two nations.

"The appointment of Leo Brent Bozell III was anticipated, considering his public identity as a conservative and his involvement in the conservative movement. Such a person may not be the best choice for diffusing tensions between the two nations," he commented.

Kadima stated that this nomination would not lead to any positive developments in relations between South Africa and the United States. "I don't believe his appointment will enhance relations between the two countries. We are dealing with a well-known conservative and media critic here. I don't think it benefits anyone. It presents a challenging situation for Pretoria," he added.

John Stremlau, a visiting professor of international relations at Wits University, echoed Swana's views regarding the swiftness of the nomination.

"It was indeed quite fast compared to the previous appointment. They have selected someone who is pro-Zionist in the Middle East, while South Africa is firmly committed to Palestinian self-determination," he told Xinhua.

In a media briefing on Tuesday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that there would be no rush in appointing a replacement for the recently expelled ambassador to the United States.