South Africa’s naval maneuver with Russia and China excites the West – #South #Africas #naval #maneuver #Russia #China #excites #West
JOHANNESBURG, Feb 17 (Reuters) – South Africa on Friday Russia and was to begin joint naval exercises with China, a move he called routine but raised domestic criticism and fears the exercises could jeopardize important ties with Western partners.
World powers are jockeying for influence in Africa amid deepening global tensions over the war in Ukraine and China’s increasingly aggressive stance against self-ruled Taiwan.
Some African countries flatly refuse to take sides because they want to benefit from diplomatic spats. However, analysts say that February 24 coincided with the anniversary of Moscow’s aggression against Ukraine 10 they consider it a risky strategy to host a daily Mosi II exercise.
“These exercises will be a lightning rod,” said Stephen Gruzd of the South African Institute of International Affairs.
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South Africa Ukraine that he took a neutral position in the conflict and last year UNstates that he abstained from voting on the resolution condemning Russia.
With other international partners, including in November France He rejected the criticism, pointing to similar exercises held in
“South Africa, like any independent and sovereign state, has its foreign relations… national has the right to conduct according to its interests,” said South Africa Ministry of Defence last month.
But six diplomats based in South Africa – all NATO or EU countries – told Reuters they condemned the exercise.
“It’s not right, we told them that we don’t agree,” said one.
NOT NICE?
Russia’s own actions have caused controversy.
It has deployed a frigate armed with a new generation hypersonic cruise missile named Zircon.
President Vladimir Putin called the weapon, which can move five times faster than sound, “unstoppable”. And Russia’s TASS news The agency said this month that the frigate will conduct a training exercise during the exercise.
“I’m not sure South Africa really understands the potential backlash,” Gruzd said.
Russia Ministry of Defence South Africa did not respond to a request for comment National The Defense Forces denied the TASS report. But resentment remains among those opposed to Russia’s presence in South African waters.
Last weekend, the ship carrying the Zircon docked in Cape Town, emblazoned with the letters Z and V on its sides – symbols used by Russia to promote the war in Ukraine.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis announced on Twitter that the ship was unwelcome in the city, saying “Cape Town will not participate in Russia’s evil war.”
HISTORICAL CONNECTIONS
of South Africa judge Africa National Congress has long-standing ties to Moscow, which has supported its fight against the racist apartheid regime, which many Western nations consider a Cold War ally.
“The position of Russia, and to a lesser extent China, as an anti-colonial ally still resonates in much of Africa, even if others see it as ancient history,” says Kobus van Staden of the China-Global South Project.
Russia and as China now seeks to build new international coalitions, he said history is coming to the fore in Africa, where some nations seek alternatives to Western hegemony.
For example, South Africa highly values its place in the BRICS bloc, along with Russia, China, India and Brazil, and supports Beijing’s plans to expand its membership and increase its influence.
However, Pretoria’s foreign policy risks undermining its economic interests.
“Some companies have asked us if it is still safe to do business with South Africa because they fear the possible consequences,” he said. Europe one of the ambassadors to Reuters.
China is currently Africa’s main bilateral trading partner, but the EU is the largest market for South Africa’s exports.
According to data from South Africa, bilateral trade with the EU last year was about 53 billion dollars and with Russia slightly more than 750 million dollars.
Domestic critics of South Africa’s efforts to deepen ties with Russia and China say economic realities alone should be enough to give the government serious pause.
Kobus Marais, who heads the defense portfolio of the opposition Democratic Alliance, said, “To be so blatantly on Russia’s side on the anniversary of the invasion is a slap in the face to our trading partners.”
“We are useful idiots.”
Reporting by Carien du Plessis Editing by Nick Macfie
Our standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
2023-02-17 07:09:56
Source – reuters
Translation“24 HOURS”