Henning Lubbe

Proudly South African 🇿🇦 | International Relations Graduate | Pursuing a Master's in Political Science & Governance | Passionate about Politics & Diplomacy

[Henning Lubbe @henninglub]

South Africa is the only country that built nuclear weapons and then voluntarily dismantled them. It chose talks and negotiations, and ultimately peace and reconciliation over violence and revenge to end apartheid. It wrote one of the most progressive human rights constitutions in the world, and still holds free and fair elections in which the party in power can lose and simply step aside. Citizens enjoy free speech and can criticise the government as much as they like.

We can agree that we face many problems, but we shouldn’t take our democracy for granted.

[Henning Lubbe @henninglub]

🇪🇺 EU reportedly drops “associate member” label for Canada after objections from Germany, France, Italy and Greece.

Several EU countries raised concerns about the proposed wording:

➡️ The term “associate member” does not exist in the EU treaties and has no clear legal definition.

➡️ The idea was introduced before member states were properly consulted.

➡️ Some governments worried it could create legal uncertainty and set an unclear precedent for other countries.

Closer practical cooperation on defence, critical minerals, energy and trade is still moving forward. The draft text now speaks of an “ever closer association” rather than any form of membership.

[Henning Lubbe @henninglub]

@SADC_News It’s really nice to see how many projects and positive initiatives are happening in Lesotho. I come across something new on my timeline almost every day.

[South African Government @GovernmentZA]

South Africa Supports Constructive Engagement

Dialogue builds stronger partnerships

South Africa continues to engage constructively with the United States through dialogue and cooperation. Our goal is to strengthen understanding, address concerns and expand opportunities for trade, investment and economic growth.
#Diplomacy #EconomicCooperation #Partnership #GovZAUpdates

[Henning Lubbe @henninglub]

Three years ago today, the @Springboks beat New Zealand 12-11 to become Rugby World Cup champions, and South Africa made history as the first nation to win four Rugby World Cup titles 🇿🇦🏆

[Henning Lubbe @henninglub]

@ChrisHatt11 And the UK has already confirmed that it views SA as a full member of the G20 and full participation will be restored under the UK's G20 presidency in 2027.

[Henning Lubbe @henninglub]

@ClaysonMonyela If reported news came with disclaimers like these, the world would already be a better place.

[South Africa 🇿🇦 at the UN 🇺🇳 @SAMissionNY]

During the 81st Session UNGA Debate on the use of the veto, Ambassador Mxolisi Nkosi delivered 🇿🇦 National Statement, stating South Africa’s opposition to the veto in principle, in accordance with the Common African Position as articulated in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration. However, pending its abolition, we reiterate that the veto must be extended to new permanent members in an enlarged Security Council. Anything less would merely perpetuate existing inequities and institutionalise unequal treatment among permanent members. Ambassador Nkosi stressed that, “A reformed Council must be underpinned by the principles of fairness, inclusivity, and equal representation, rather than the preservation of historical privileges”.

[Henning Lubbe @henninglub]

The Democratic Republic of the Congo 🇨🇩

It produces approximately 75% of the world’s cobalt, a key component in lithium-ion batteries, and is a major source of tantalum, used in electronic devices. Its vast copper reserves are essential to electrical grids, infrastructure and the global energy transition.

[Africa First @AfricaFirsts]

Some African countries are far more important to the world economy than many people realise.

Which African country do you think the rest of the world consistently underestimates?

[The Spectator Index @spectatorindex]

BREAKING: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva wins Brazil's presidential election

[Henning Lubbe @henninglub]

🇨🇳 is now South Africa’s biggest trading partner overall, but the numbers show a pretty lopsided relationship.

It supplies over a third of SA’s manufactured imports while buying only about 5.9% of what SA manufactures and exports.

So even though Europe has lost the top spot as SA’s largest partner, it still takes the biggest share of 🇿🇦’s exports.

[Newsday @NewsdayZA]

China has overtaken Europe as South Africa's largest trade partner, but the relationship is not even.
https://t.co/D8LpcBKqTl

[Henning Lubbe @henninglub]

@jackofficial_01 The Da Vinci Code

[eNCA @eNCA]

The South African Weather Service has warned that the El Niño weather pattern will bring less rainfall and hotter than normal temperatures from October to December. It says Gauteng is currently in the grip of a heatwave.

https://t.co/TEpnybM7Uy

[Henning Lubbe @henninglub]

@janeknown_ That last scene was epic.

[Henning Lubbe @henninglub]

The first official bilateral visit by a Canadian prime minister to Türkiye.

When the old order becomes less reliable, new partnerships stop feeling optional.

[Mark Carney @MarkJCarney]

New markets. Stronger defence. Greater energy security.

We’re forging a new Canada–Türkiye Strategic Partnership.

[Henning Lubbe @henninglub]

Great progress and a step in the right direction. But will farmers also receive the funding, infrastructure, training and support they need to succeed without needing to borrow money for it? Giving people land is an important first step, but ensuring they can make a sustainable living from it is just as important.

[Henning Lubbe @henninglub]

@sherwiebp 😭

[Henning Lubbe @henninglub]

@martine_sobey Wonderful to see partnerships like this 🇱🇸🇬🇧

[France in South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi @FrenchEmbassyZA]

🇫🇷🇿🇦 Welcome to Antoine Michon, France’s new Ambassador to South Africa!

Formerly French Consul General in Cape Town (2009–2013), he returns to take up his duties in Pretoria, succeeding David Martinon.

Bienvenue, Monsieur l’Ambassadeur !

[Henning Lubbe @henninglub]

@spectatorindex To quote former US President Eisenhower: “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.”