Home PodcastJulie Alli Russia and China to Engage in Joint Naval Training with South Africa Next Month

Russia and China to Engage in Joint Naval Training with South Africa Next Month

by Thaabit Kamaar

Photo by [DailyWire]


China and Russia, alongside the South African National Defense Force, will participate in three-way naval drills called Mosi next month. It is the second time the three countries have participated in maritime exercises, with the first held in Cape Town in 2019.

Last week the SANDF released a statement confirming the naval exercises will take place in KwaZulu Natal, specifically Durban and Richards Bay, from the 17-27 of February.

The training’s purpose is “To strengthen the already flourishing relations between South Africa, Russia and China.”

The exercises will also include Chinese and Russian military personnel sharing skills and operational knowledge with their South African counterparts.

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External Criticism of the Training

Professor Fulufhelo Netswera, head of the BRICS Research Institute at the Durban University of Technology, said external forces, assumed to be western countries and their allies, criticise South Africa’s relations with China and Russia.

External forces would prefer South Africa to cooperate with western nations, such as the United States and the European Union, as opposed to fellow BRICS members, given Russia’s involvement in the Ukraine war.

He said the rest of the world and South Africans need to understand that South Africa is a member of BRICS. As such, member states, to the best of their abilities, try to support each other, whether political or economic, with security being an area of cooperation.

As for South Africa’s neighbouring countries, Prof Netswera said South Africa’s cooperation with China and Russia does not threaten their nations and foreign relations.

“We really need to understand that our cooperation with Russia and China has not threatened our neighbours. Matter of fact, a lot of our neighbours are beneficiaries of the BRICS bank. They should be happy we are forging new cooperation that is not aligned with neocolonial agendas.”


Democratic Alliance Criticises the Training

The DA has slammed the South African government’s neutral stance on the war in Ukraine by saying the naval exercises indicate the ANC’s allegiance to Moscow.

Prof Netswera said the exercises have nothing to do with the war in Ukraine. As a member of BRICS, South Africa can conduct military training with Russia while maintaining its neutral view. He said the criticism of the DA was expected as the opposition tends to take contrasting stances to the ruling party.

He continues to state, there is a priority amongst the BRICS nations to strengthen their cooperation in the security space. As such, South Africans should expect similar military exercises to occur.

“We should embrace it. I see no reason why we shouldn’t. We are not being aggressive against any nation, and we are not being confrontational with any nation. So, if it capacitates our own military and strengthens our own security, [why not?].”


Watch the full discussion here.

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