The South African military will host a joint military exercise with Russia and China on its east coast from February 17 to 27. The naval drills will coincide with the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
While South Africa has little trade with Moscow, it supports the stance of Russia and China against a perceived US-hegemony in favor of a “multipolar” world.
South Africa’s ruling party for the past three decades, the African National Congress (ANC), is also strongly beholden to the Kremlin for its moral and military support in the fight against apartheid.
South Africa’s professed neutrality has disappointed its Western partners, who consider the country crucial to their plans to strengthen relationships with Africa. South Africa’s Foreign Minister…