South African- Russian Strategy

      Is South Africa making a mistake by forming closer ties to Russia and China?



"I'm not sure South Africa really realizes the potential backlash," said Steven Gruzd, head of the African Governance and Diplomacy Program. South Africa was set to launch a naval exercise with Russia and China on February 17, 2023 an act of forming closer ties to Russia and China. Today I am going to explain why this is a mistake in three points. First, what do Russia and China want? Second, why these naval drills are controversial, and lastly, how this negatively affects South Africa.

Russia, China, and South Africa have recently wrapped up ten days of naval drills off the coast of South Africa, and we must ask, what do they want? atlanticcouncil.org put it plainly: “[South Africa’s] location aligns strategically with Russian and Chinese efforts to project naval power in African waters”. Denys Reva from South Africa's Institute for Security Studies said that, “[Russia] will be trying to show that despite its setbacks in the war in Ukraine, its armed forces are still very powerful.”

In January, a White House speaker stated that, "The United States has concerns about any country exercising with Russia, as Russia wages a brutal war against Ukraine." South Africa recently allowed a sanctioned Russian cargo ship to dock in Cape Town and unload cargo and supplies at a South African military base. Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor accused the African country of "abuse of international practice" because Russia is currently waging a war in Ukraine. 

Lastly, how does this negatively affect South Africa? To quote Liubov Abravitova, Ukraine’s ambassador to Southern Africa, “It is very disturbing, that South Africa is hosting a military exercise with the country – an aggressor, invader – that is using its military force against a peaceful country, bringing destruction and trying to eliminate the Ukrainian Nation.” 

South Africa is at risk from Russia and should be cautious towards what they do in relations with Russia. 

In conclusion, South Africa is trying to strengthen ties with a country who has recently invaded a peaceful country. South Africa is making a mistake because of the risk of backlash from Russia. 
















Works Cited

McKenzie, David. “South Africa risks backlash for Russian naval exercises, but its history with Moscow runs deep.” CNN, 19 February 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/19/africa/south-africa-russia-china-military-drills-intl-cmd/index.html. Accessed 3 March 2023.

“What we learned from the Russia-China-South Africa military drills.” Atlantic Council, 28 February 2023, https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/what-we-learned-from-the-russia-china-south-africa-military-drills/. Accessed 3 March 2023.

“Why is South Africa's navy joining exercises with Russia and China?” BBC, 17 February 2023, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-64380572. Accessed 3 March 2023.

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