The European Union’s top foreign policy official Josep Borrell is the latest foreign dignitary to pass through Pretoria in what appears to be a vain effort to persuade South Africa’s international relations minister Naledi Pandor to reconsider Pretoria’s stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and upcoming joint naval exercises with both Russia and China.
Borrell was in town last week for the European Union Ministerial Political Dialogue with South Africa that wrapped up on Friday. Shortly before he left, Borrell held a joint press conference with Pandor and said the timing of the upcoming joint naval exercises is unfortunate: