European Union leaders announced a 4.7 billion euro ($5.10 billion) investment package during a visit to South Africa on Thursday, at a time when both are on worse terms with the United States than they have been for decades.

The European Union and South Africa are holding their first summit since 2018, the latest step toward shoring up a shaky relationship in a world where both are currently the target of US President Donald Trump’s capricious politics.

Donald Trump's cancellation of millions in aid to the country left a massive funding gap. The EU's investment package includes funding to boost vaccine manufacturing and for a transition to clean energy.

Senior European Union officials are in South Africa for a summit with President Cyril Ramaphosa that centers on bolstering trade and diplomatic ties as both feel the impact of the Trump administration

The European Union and South Africa vowed to deepen cooperation at a summit on Thursday as both grapple with aid and trade threats from the new US administration. - 'Belief in human dignity' - Both South Africa and the EU are grappling with dramatic policy shifts from Washington since Trump return to the White House this year,