SOUTH AFRICA DEFENTS JOINT RUSSIAN-CHINA MILITARY EXERCISE
South Africa has stood by its decision to hold a joint military exercise with Russia and China in February 2023.
Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor condemned the double standard which says some countries can perform such exercises but others are not.
“All countries conduct military exercises with friends worldwide,” Dr. Pandor added.
Dr. Pandor then shut down the suggestion that South Africa cannot conduct the military exercises it wants to as an “abuse of international practice”. Last week South Africa’s military announced it would hold joint naval drills with Russia and China off its coast next month followed by some criticism that the exercise is not appropriate, given that it coincides with the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Not much information has been given about the exercises which will be conducted, but the state-owned Tass news agency reports that a Russian warship armed with hypersonic cruise weapons will take part.
The Ministry of Defence has also defended the planned drills, that South Africa has in the past hosted similar exercises with France, the US, and countries from the Western Nato military alliance. The drills will run for 10 days from 17 February to 27 February in the port city of Durban, and Richards Bay.
The aim is to share operational skills and knowledge, the South African National Defence Force which has drawn pressure from Western countries to condemn the Russian invasion, South Africa has remained neutral – to the disappointment of Ukraine.
Officials in South Africa have repeatedly said they do not condone the invasion but will not be forced into choosing sides and are continuing to engage with both countries in a business-as-usual manner.
South Africa’s leaders have a connection to Russian dating back to the fight against white-minority rule, or apartheid when some members of the country’s liberation movement received military training in Russia.
In recent years that relationship has grown into business ties through the Brics bloc of emerging economies – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
