South Africa’s deepening ties with Russia and other authoritarian regimes threaten both its trade ties with the West and its fragile political unity.
Western diplomats based in South Africa were reminded of the difficulties experienced by the US government in attending the recent African Aerospace Defense (AAD) exhibition at the moment when the Russian Neustra Shimy-class frigate and support ships berthed at the Simons Town Navy. He called it “extremely noteworthy.” base.
Of course he’s wrong. It was pretty predictable considering how things have been going lately.
Now, under the cover of goodwill generated by the Government of National Unity (GNU), the African National Congress (ANC) is deepening its ties with the authoritarian world and doubling its friendships with Russia and Iran.
The resignation of Naledi Pandor, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, and the appointment of Ronald Lamola, who was not seen as an ideological hardliner, ushered in a reset of the alliance with South Africa’s dictator, demonstrating this attitude. was beginning to seriously endanger South Africa. relations with major trading partners of Western countries;
But after a period of toning down its rhetoric, the ANC’s hardliners appear to have found their footing and are now pushing for a return to cooperation with Russia and a more partisan approach to the Middle East.
This symbolism is hard to ignore. Docking pennant no. The 772 frigate, the lead ship bearing the Neustrasim-class name, arrives even as Russia continues its violent colonization of Ukraine amidst worldwide criticism. The Russian Navy’s largest and newest anti-submarine frigate, Neustra Shimy, is widely used for defense and diplomatic missions, including off the coast of Somalia, Cuba and Venezuela.
The frigate is said to be in South African waters for the South African Navy Festival. Amid global isolation and sanctions, this represents a strong show of support from South Africa and renews criticism of the Russian military ship Lady R being moored under cover of darkness and for purposes still shrouded in obscurity. It may wake you up. Naval base at the end of 2022.
After toning down its rhetoric, ANC hardliners appear to have found their footing and are now pushing for a return to alignment with Russia and a more partisan approach to the Middle East.
Now, there are rumors that the Tupolev Tu-160 “white swans” will make another literal flying visit later this month after their absence at the AAD as part of the BRICS diplomacy boost. A Tu-160 that visited South Africa in October 2019 was involved in a cruise missile launch in Ukraine, and its airmen are considered war criminals by Kiev.
The flirtation with Russia is likely to accelerate further as President Putin, who is currently the BRICS chairman, will host a summit meeting in Kazan, Russia, from October 22nd to 24th. Kazan was undoubtedly chosen as the host city because it is located at a considerable distance from the front lines in Ukraine and is undisturbed by the sounds of missiles, drones and artillery fire, giving rise to the illusion that Russia is at peace. It is influenced by the fact that it is produced.
(This normalization of an authoritarian state that has waged the world’s most serious acts of war since 1945 marks a low point for the BRICS, which seeks to present itself as a pragmatic ally.
Putin must be positively upbeat at the prospect of lording it over the BRICS, following his humiliating virtual appearance at the South African summit the previous year, saying:
“On January 1, Russia handed over the baton of the BRICS chairmanship.The association currently has 10 member countries, according to decisions adopted at the 15th BRICS Summit in August 2022. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have joined BRICS as new full members, a strong sign of BRICS’ growing authority and role in international affairs.
President Putin is counting on the “increasing authority of the association” to provide legitimacy for the invasion of Ukraine and continued support for malign military regimes and dictators in Africa.
Bystanders should brace for an outpouring of Orwellian doublespeak as Russia projects itself as a standard-bearer of freedom and peace.
Russian Presidential Advisor Yuri Ushakov has already mastered the technique and said:
“We would like to point out that BRICS cooperation in the political and security field is free from ideological bias and double standards, and is based on respect for the sovereignty of member states and the principle of non-interference in their internal affairs.”
This comes from a country that fires missiles at cities and occupies territory in neighboring Ukraine. Ushakov continued:
“BRICS member states are committed to resolving differences and disputes through dialogue and consultation and support all efforts to promote the peaceful resolution of crises.” We are committed to strengthening arms control regimes and eliminating weapons of mass destruction. Aiming to contribute to disarmament and non-proliferation, we jointly support the deployment of weapons in space and the prevention of an arms race. ”
Clearly, Russia is the world’s greatest hope for world peace.
An interesting new term is used by Ushakov et al. They say the BRICS form part of a “world majority.” This is an interesting way to describe this group of countries. Some of these countries actively repress their citizens and hold fake elections that do not reflect the true feelings of the country’s majority, while others do not hold elections at all.
The ANC may have lost its domestic majority, but it identifies with this “world majority” and engages in its own double discourse.
Appeasement with Russia and other authoritarian states would not only jeopardize South Africa’s trade and investment relationships with the West, but could also expose Pretoria to international litigation.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said at the United Nations:
“Today, democracy is thriving in South Africa. We have a progressive constitution, an entrenched human rights culture and strong institutions. There are programs to protect people who are
The ANC deliberately ignores that it has power-sharing arrangements with parties that do not share its enthusiasm for Vladimir Putin. The rewards for this friendship are likely to be large enough to ignore the global impact and the strain this places on GNU.
The GNU restored some confidence in South Africa’s overall direction. But this is fragile and can be easily undone by reckless international politics. Appeasement with Russia and other authoritarian states would not only jeopardize South Africa’s trade and investment relationships with the West, but would also require Pretoria to face international legal obligations if Ukraine wished to escalate its attacks against the aggressors. There is also the possibility that they may be exposed to measures or even military action.
Can anyone buy a maritime drone in Simon’s Town?
Ramaphosa will be in Kazan at the end of October. The BRICS Summit is a great opportunity for him to further strengthen the GNU in support of democracy, human rights and strong institutions. Don’t hold your breath.
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