South Africa is apparently not interested in conducting joint naval exercises with the United States, opting instead to proceed with controversial exercises later this month with both Russia and China.
U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Chase Patrick, Director, Maritime Headquarters, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, told reporters last week that his office has reached out on several occasions to the South African National Defence Force to join them in regional exercises, but each time the offer is refused.
Meantime, South African leaders have been adamant in their determination to proceed with joint exercises with Russia and China that will take place from February 17-27 off the coast of KwaZulu-Natal province.
Contrasting Perspectives on the Symbolism of the Upcoming Joint Naval Exercises
- NEW ERA: “South Africa’s willingness to conduct military exercises with Russia and China, along with Global South’s resistance to the allies’ proxy war against Russia, suggests that the 21st century might be neither the American nor the Chinese century, but something much more complex” — Doug Bandow, senior fellow at the Cato Institute (RESPONSIBLE STATECRAFT)
- POLITICAL EXCERCISE: “The military exercise is more like a political proof of relations among the three countries and a new cooperation initiative among BRICS countries. I don’t think the drill can tell and achieve many things as the people in the West exaggerate” — Zhou Yuyuan, deputy director at the Centre for West Asian and African Studies at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST)
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? The upcoming exercises threaten to strain South Africa’s relations with the U.S. and Europe, given the heightened sensitivities around Russia’s participation in Mosi II and the fact that the exercises will overlap with the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine. China, interestingly, is much less the focus of attention this time.
SUGGESTED READING:
- Irish Times: Concern as ‘neutral’ South Africa prepares for naval exercise with Russia and China by Bill Corcoran
- CBS News: U.S. “concerned” as South Africa to hold war games with Russia, China on Ukraine invasion anniversary by Sarah Carter
