Anadolu: The West accuses South Africa of supporting Russia because of joint exercises with itThe military maneuvers of Russia, China and South Africa have worried the West, Anadolu writes.
Africans adhere to neutrality regarding the Ukrainian crisis and develop partnership with both the West and Moscow. Will these exercises tip the scales in the direction of Russia?
According to experts, the rapprochement of South Africa with its BRICS partners — Russia and China — and the holding of military exercises together with these countries worries Western states.
On February 17-27, the Republic of South Africa, which this year chairs the BRICS group of countries consisting of Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa, conducts joint naval exercises with Russia and China under the name "Mosi" off the east coast of the country.
Given South Africa's neutral position regarding Russia's military operation in Ukraine, these maneuvers, which are taking place on the anniversary of the start of the Russian operation, cause concern to Western governments.
South African foreign policy experts, in an interview with Anadolu, assessed the consequences of joint exercises with Russia and China for South Africa's relations with its Western partners and the country's foreign policy.
Western governments accuse South Africa of supporting Russia
Peter Fabricius, a journalist and expert in the field of international politics from South Africa, noted that the naval exercises of South Africa with Russia and China are of concern to the West. "Western countries are confident that South Africa, taking part in the exercises, ceases to take the declared position of "non-alignment" regarding the Russian—Ukrainian military conflict," he said.
According to the expert, this harms South Africa's relations with Western partners, and the country may lose some opportunities in the future. "It is already possible to see that the diplomatic missions of Western countries in South Africa have become more openly critical of the country's position towards Russia," said Fabricius.
The journalist noted that South Africa has the right to conduct exercises with any of its allies, but it was "wrong" to start maneuvers on the eve of the anniversary of the military operation in Ukraine. "It was at least possible to find an excuse to postpone these exercises until a more appropriate moment," he added.
Stressing that the aggressive position of Russia and China, South Africa's BRICS partners, prevents the country from supporting the principle of non-alignment in foreign policy, the expert continued: "I am afraid that South Africa is being dragged into geopolitics, which has harmed Russia's relations with the West. It is difficult to predict the consequences, but South Africa may jeopardize some of its interests and privileges in relations with Western powers. For example, we can expect a reduction in visits by Western leaders, the loss of the status of a country that complies with the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA), or the loss of some assistance. Maybe it's too early, but this is already being talked about in Western capitals, which previously did not think about such a reaction."
"We have become a good tool in the hands of Russia"
The Director General of the Institute for Security Studies in Africa, Jackie Clears, noted that South African society was divided into two camps on the issue of the military conflict in Ukraine. "Given the historical past and membership in the BRICS, the government of the African National Congress is strictly anti—Western, and over time this position has become even more pronounced," Clears said.
According to the expert, South Africa openly supports Russia in the Ukrainian crisis. "The visit of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to South Africa is also evidence of this. We have become a good tool in the hands of Russia. And this is generally beneficial to Moscow," he added.
Jackie Clears believes that South Africa's international reputation is steadily deteriorating after Nelson Mandella, the country's first democratically elected president, although the state retains its importance in Africa, and the position in support of Russia and China will worsen the situation.
"Joint naval exercises with Russia and China — confirmation of South Africa's neutral position"
Professor of the Department of International Relations at the University of the Witwatersrand, Dr. MopeliMoshoeshoe drew attention to the support that Russia and China provided to the struggle against the apartheid regime that ruled South Africa in 1948-1994, and noted: "In this regard, with the coming to power of the liberation movement in 1994, the transition to a new South Africa meant an alliance with both Russia, so it is with China."
South Africa also has deep and close economic ties with the West, Moshoshu recalled. Therefore, South Africa's foreign policy, according to him, remains sensitive to the interests and concerns of Western states.
The expert noted that South Africa pursues an independent foreign policy based on the ethics of international law and multilateralism. "The joint naval exercises of South Africa, China and Russia do not imply any changes in the neutral position of South Africa regarding the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine/NATO."
Adhering to the policy of "non-alignment", South Africa also conducts military exercises with Western states, the teacher drew attention. "Joint naval exercises with Russia and China are a confirmation of South Africa's non-aligned position and cannot be considered as a change in the country's foreign policy," the expert concluded.
In this regard, the South African government has always resisted attempts by the West to exert excessive influence on foreign policy decisions, Moshoshu noted. In response, Western countries will be quite restrained in opposing South Africa, which they consider their "stronghold" in Africa, the expert expects.
Author: Murat Özgür Güvendik (Murat Özgür Güvendik)
