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.

European Union leaders have announced a 4.7 billion euro ($5.1 billion) investment package in South Africa to support green energy transition and vaccine production at their first bilateral summit in seven years.

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.

The European Union and South Africa took another step toward shoring up a shaky relationship in a world where both are currently the target of US President Donald Trump’s unpredictable politics.

Senior European Union officials were in South Africa for a summit Thursday with President Cyril Ramaphosa that centres on bolstering trade and diplomatic ties as both feel the impact of the Trump administration's confrontational foreign policy.

European Union leaders announced 4.7 billion euros ($5.1 billion) in investments in South Africa on Thursday to support green energy and vaccine production, and agreed to start talks on new trade deals with Africa's most advanced economy.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday announced a new 4.7 billion euro ($5.10 billion) investment package for South Africa on a visit to the country. Von der Leyen said the Global Gateway investment package was to support a just energy transition,