Africa is at a geopolitical crossroads. The changing global landscape—marked by rivalry between militarily powerful states, trade wars between economic rivals, and the rebalancing of power and influence between the countries of the world—is creating uncertainty and volatility.

The ideal of a consensus-driven ‘national interest’ is strategically ambitious, especially in a country still struggling with unresolved divisions of class, racial, and gender inequality, and sharply divided about how to address the legacy of apartheid. But South Africa, with all its imperfections, must face the rest of the world in an organised and coherent way if it is to maximise its advantages.