(4 minutes read) (Global)
Russia, China, and South Africa began naval drills off South Africa’s Indian Ocean coast. The three countries, through this joint military drill, are demonstrating their close ties, as criticisms are levelled from different quarters for the joint drill, mainly from the main opposition party-Democratic Alliance. Importantly, the 10 days of exercise, named Mosi II, will coincide with the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February.
Russia, China, and South Africa began naval drills off South Africa’s Indian Ocean coast. The three countries, through this joint military drill, are demonstrating their close ties, as criticisms are levelled from different quarters for the joint drill, mainly from the main opposition party-Democratic Alliance. Importantly, the 10 days of exercise, named Mosi II, will coincide with the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February.
As reported by www.trendsnafrica.com, a Russian frigate, Admiral Gorshkov, arrived in Cape Town earlier this week sporting the letters Z and V on its sides. The arrival of Admiral Gorshkov has stirred considerable controversy because it is armed with the latest Zircon hypersonic missiles, a weapon that Russia says can penetrate any missile defences to strike targets at sea and on land. In addition to Admiral Gorshkov, other ships participating in the maritime exercises will include a Russian oil tanker for re-fuelling, a South African frigate, and three Chinese ships – a destroyer, a frigate, and a support vessel, according to a South African military statement.
The South African National Defence Force has described the naval exercises with China and Russia as a multinational maritime exercise., ostensibly to tell the world that not much should be read into the exercise, particularly because of its close affinity with the western bloc. The naval drills will “strengthen the already flourishing relations between South Africa, Russia, and China, with the aim of sharing operational skills and knowledge, according to South African military sources. Close to 350 members of South Africa’s navy and other military branches are expected to participate in the exercise. It may be recalled that the three countries previously held the Mosi I naval drills in Cape Town in 2019.
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South Africa is among many African countries that have friendly relations with Moscow and abstained from voting on a United Nations resolution condemning Russia’s war in Ukraine. This did not go well with the US and its allies. High-ranking U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, recently visited South Africa to deepen diplomatic, political, and economic ties. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the White House in September 2022.
