South Africa to Hold Naval Drill With Russia and China Amid Ukraine War

South Africa to Hold Naval Drill With Russia and China Amid Ukraine War

The 10-day naval exercises are a show of diplomatic independence for South Africa, which is part of an alliance with Brazil, Russia, India and China — known as BRICS.

South Africa’s military announced on Thursday that it plans to hold joint training exercises off its coast next month with Russia and China, a move criticized by the United States, which has been trying to rally other countries to isolate Russia over the war in Ukraine.

The exercises will coincide with the one-year anniversary of the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb 24. South Africa was among three dozen countries that abstained last year in a vote in the United Nations to condemn Russia for its claim to have annexed several regions of Ukraine.

Seems that there are some around the world who are not persuaded by US influencers to 'shun' Putin's Russia.

He added, “We encourage South Africa to cooperate militarily with fellow democracies that share our mutual commitment to human rights and the rule of law.”

... and that is what passes for the "optics" of persuasion, I guess.

The naval drill is a show of diplomatic independence for South Africa, analysts said. South Africa is part of an alliance with Brazil, Russia, India and China — known by the acronym BRICS — and this naval exercise reasserts South Africa’s position that it will not allow the conflict between Russia and Ukraine to dictate its diplomatic relations.

“It is seen as a war that is happening in Europe, and as far as South Africa is concerned, it’s not part of this war,” said Denys Reva, a maritime researcher with the Institute for Security Studies in South Africa.

I suppose this maritime researcher represents that part of South Africa that is not persuaded...

While many South Africans have said they support their country’s refusal to condemn Russia for the war in Ukraine, the military exercises provoked some domestic criticism.

Kobus Marais, a member of the Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s main opposition party, who serves on Parliament’s joint committee on defense, said that the military exercise will bring little benefit to South Africa’s ailing and underfunded naval fleet. South Africa’s government should have prioritized relations with larger trading partners, like the European Union and the U.S., he said. Instead, it has repeatedly shown favor to Russia.

“Clearly what they are showing now is a lack of neutrality,” Mr. Marais said.

... politicians say what they say.

Well, then... there are some elements in South Africa that are distinctly non-neutral... who would they be? The Academia, the media, the government? I really wonder who's will is being executed here... aside from Russia... and China ...

Because Brazil is in the midst of scrapping it currency, so they are kind of busy right now. China is contextually "along for the ride" as this seems to be about Russia, Russia, Russia. I suppose India is playing a long game, which they can afford to do... they have numbers on their side.

Interesting choices here.

they will lose a bunch of ships to the skeleton coast.

we all know their navies ain't worth a dam.

a reply to: Maxmars
Aren't they all members of BRICS?
Rainbows
Jane

Read somewhere that it will be on the east coast of south africa. Skeleton is on the west side.
a reply to: sarahvital

a reply to: Maxmars


i find this funny,

We encourage South Africa to cooperate militarily with fellow democracies that share our mutual commitment to human rights and the rule of law.”

calling the government of south africa a democracy, is like saying water ain't wet. sure they put on a show, but so long as the anc has any power it will never be.

a reply to: Maxmars

Watch out world!















Where is the money coming from?

a reply to: Maxmars

the military exercise will bring little benefit to South Africa’s ailing and underfunded naval fleet. South Africa’s government should have prioritized relations with larger trading partners, like the European Union and the U.S.,

Loosely translated: Join the US and EU in ostracizing Russia and well make it worth you while. $$$$$

I remember all too well under Obama's regime when Russian pilots joined USAF in Mountain Home, Idaho for training exercises. Obama always drew the Russian Boogieman card, so it just seemed odd and stuck with me.

Why would the US conduct military exercises with the 'enemy', especially at such an advanced level?

I think that's when I got my eyesight and realized we're all just watching a made-for-plebes show.

Huge medication shortage right now. Tons of drugs people can't get because of China. The future is looking bad. Really bad!

While I understand the humor, lets not forget what Mr. Kipling had to say.

Fuzzy-Wuzzy

We've fought with many men acrost the seas,
An' some of 'em was brave an' some was not:
The Paythan an' the Zulu an' Burmese;
But the Fuzzy was the finest o' the lot.
We never got a ha'porth's change of 'im:
'E squatted in the scrub an' 'ocked our 'orses,
'E cut our sentries up at Sua~kim~,
An' 'e played the cat an' banjo with our forces.
So 'ere's ~to~ you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, at your 'ome in the Soudan;
You're a pore benighted 'eathen but a first-class fightin' man;
We gives you your certificate, an' if you want it signed
We'll come an' 'ave a romp with you whenever you're inclined.

We took our chanst among the Khyber 'ills,
The Boers knocked us silly at a mile,
The Burman give us Irriwaddy chills,
An' a Zulu ~impi~ dished us up in style:
But all we ever got from such as they
Was pop to what the Fuzzy made us swaller;
We 'eld our bloomin' own, the papers say,
But man for man the Fuzzy knocked us 'oller.
Then 'ere's ~to~ you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, an' the missis and the kid;
Our orders was to break you, an' of course we went an' did.
We sloshed you with Martinis, an' it wasn't 'ardly fair;
But for all the odds agin' you, Fuzzy-Wuz, you broke the square.

'E 'asn't got no papers of 'is own,
'E 'asn't got no medals nor rewards,
So we must certify the skill 'e's shown
In usin' of 'is long two-'anded swords:
When 'e's 'oppin' in an' out among the bush
With 'is coffin-'eaded shield an' shovel-spear,
An 'appy day with Fuzzy on the rush
Will last an 'ealthy Tommy for a year.
So 'ere's ~to~ you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, an' your friends which are no more,
If we 'adn't lost some messmates we would 'elp you to deplore;
But give an' take's the gospel, an' we'll call the bargain fair,
For if you 'ave lost more than us, you crumpled up the square!

'E rushes at the smoke when we let drive,
An', before we know, 'e's 'ackin' at our 'ead;
'E's all 'ot sand an' ginger when alive,
An' 'e's generally shammin' when 'e's dead.
'E's a daisy, 'e's a ducky, 'e's a lamb!
'E's a injia-rubber idiot on the spree,
'E's the on'y thing that doesn't give a damn
For a Regiment o' British Infantree!
So 'ere's ~to~ you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, at your 'ome in the Soudan;
You're a pore benighted 'eathen but a first-class fightin' man;
An' 'ere's ~to~ you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, with your 'ayrick 'ead of 'air —
You big black boundin' beggar — for you broke a British square!


Even though the Sudan is North Africa, this feels appropriate.

a reply to: 19Bones79

a reply to: didntasktobeborned

We'll if it's a poem battle you want, then it's a poem battle you'll get.

Have at you!

No Sir/Mam, Your post made me think of the poem and its gruesome message..careful not to underestimate. A bunch of poorly armed, untrained 'savages',although defeated still accomplished what no one in the civilized world could do at the time..They broke the Brittish Square.


a reply to: 19Bones79

a reply to: didntasktobeborned

I urge you to watch the last video I posted.

With the current state of the South African military being what it is I daresay those Fuzzy-Wuzzies would kick our asses.

a reply to: 19Bones79

suprised they aren't training them in the use of necklaces, (car tires filled with gasoline set on fire around peoples necks) like the old days.

a reply to: BernnieJGato

I guess that's not a handy strategy when you're on a boat as part of a 10-day naval exercise.


South Africa might just sink the Russian fleet and do the West a favor.

originally posted by: 19Bones79
a reply to: Maxmars

Watch out world!

Where is the money coming from?

Jesus lol

a reply to: slapjacks

Leeeet my people goooo!

It's a good step in the right direction. Europeans brutally colonized Africa in the past and committed untold atrocity in South Africa. After Mandela freed Africa from European imperialism in 1994 natives got power back from European imperialists.