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Pandor and Lavrov meeting – South Africa defends planned military drills with Russia and China

Pandor and Lavrov meeting – South Africa defends planned military drills with Russia and China
Sergei Lavrov (L), the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, attend a mneeting for bilateral talks with his South African counterpart, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr. Naledi Pandor (R), in Pretoria, South Africa, 23 January 2023. Lavrov's visit to South Africa was accompanied by protests of the country's Ukrainian community calling on the South African government to cancel the talks and the ongoing co-operation with Russia. EPA-EFE/KIM LUDBROOK

PRETORIA, Jan 23 (Reuters) - South Africa's foreign minister on Monday deflected criticism of joint military drills planned with Russia and China, saying that hosting such exercises with "friends" was the "natural course of relations".

Naledi Pandor made her comments during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who was visiting South Africa 11 months after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

A South African official, who declined to be named because they were not authorised to speak, said Lavrov would afterwards visit Eswatini, Botswana and Angola.

South Africa is one of Russia’s most important allies on a continent divided over the invasion and Western attempts to isolate Moscow because of its military actions.

Some opposition parties and South Africa’s small Ukrainian community have said that hosting Lavrov is insensitive.

Sergei Lavrov (L), the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, is welcomed for bilateral talks with his South African counterpart, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr. Naledi Pandor (R), in Pretoria, South Africa, 23 January 2023.  EPA-EFE/KIM LUDBROOK

South Africa says it is impartial on the Ukraine conflict and has abstained from voting on U.N. resolutions on the war.

It has close ties with Moscow, a friend of the governing African National Congress when it was a liberation movement opposing white minority rule, and will host a joint exercise with Russia and China on its east coast from Feb. 17-27.

“All countries conduct military exercises with friends worldwide. It’s the natural course of relations,” Pandor, alongside Lavrov, told reporters in the capital, Pretoria.

The exercise will be under way on Feb. 24, the first anniversary of what Russia calls its “special military operation”. Ukraine and its allies say Russia has launched an imperial land grab.

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government has expressed a desire to mediate in the Ukraine conflict as a neutral party.

Pandor emphasised that, though South Africa had initially called on Russia to withdraw from Ukraine unilaterally, that was no longer its position.

“To repeat that … to Mr Lavrov today would make me appear quite simplistic and infantile, given the massive transfer of arms (to Ukraine) … and all that has occurred (since),” she said.

Neutrality

South Africa has little trade with Russia but champions a world view – favoured by China and Russia  that seeks to undo perceived U.S.-hegemony in favour of a “multipolar” world in which geopolitical power is more diffuse.

Lavrov said the military drills were transparent and that Russia, China and South Africa had provided all relevant information.

The South African armed forces said last week the exercise was a “means to strengthen the already flourishing relations between South Africa, Russia and China”.

Russia’s TASS news agency reported on Monday that a Russian warship armed with new generation hypersonic cruise weapons would take part in the drills.

Lavrov was visiting ahead of a Russia-Africa summit in July. There was no official public comment from the Ukrainian embassy but officials said it had asked the South African government to help push a Ukrainian peace plan.

Pandor has said South Africa will not be dragged into taking sides, and has accused the West of condemning Russia while ignoring issues such as Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory.

“As South Africa, we consistently articulate that we will always stand ready to support the peaceful resolution of conflicts on the (African) continent and throughout the globe,” Pandor said in earlier remarks on Monday.

By Carien Du Plessis

(Reporting by Carien Du Plessis, Anait Miridzhanian, Alexander Winning and Estelle Shirbon, Writing by Tim Cocks, Editing by Timothy Heritage and Philippa Fletcher)

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Comments - Please in order to comment.

  • Graeme de Villiers says:

    This meeting is nothing short of diabolical

  • Carsten Rasch says:

    South Africa is Russia’s bitch. The entire world knows that now. We are supposed to be neutral in this conflict, but participating in war games with one of the conflicted nations is hardly neutral, particularly as it’s the invading one. Let’s ask Switserland about our so-called neutrality, see what the experts say. I’m just so sick of the amateurs running our country.

  • Jane Crankshaw says:

    Mrs Pandor …you, our President and our entire Cabinet are an embarrassment to thinking South Africans and taxpayers. You should all be ashamed of yourselves!

    • John Slyer says:

      I have always held Mrs. Pandor in high regard, until recently, with the Government siding with Russia and her as intermediary. She must know of the war crimes and the evidence thereof, mounting by Russia against civilians, including woman, children and elderly people. We can expect this policy from the ANC, and therefore not be surprised by it, however what a disappoint she has become.

      • John Hepton says:

        Neve, ever, confuse a plum english accent with intelligence.

        • John Slyer says:

          John Slyer (gismo2)

          I believe you do me and Naledi Pandor an injustice with your remarks concerning her accent and me by being blinded by it.
          Naledi Pandor has a Phd. from the University of Pretoria as well as honorary doctorates from four universities in different countries, She also gave active support to South Africa’s bid to be a major player in the building of the Square Kilometer Array. It is now proving, in the early stages, to be a major success and has elevated South Africa’s standing in the scientific world.

  • John Counihan says:

    What a disgrace! Shows the ANC’s true colours. De facto criminals at ease with international criminals like Russia. I wonder if Madam Pandor’s children are proud of her? And her grandchildren? I hope she washed her hands after that handshake with that monster.

  • Peter Geddes says:

    How embarrassingly low we have sunk! From being upheld once as a beacon of peace & reconciliation, to this!
    I guess it’s the old loyalty to one’s cronies thing, with loyalty and responsibility to the country’s citizens tragically non-existent. This has been demonstrated by years of cadre deployment, each getting their chance to steal the resources of this country.

  • Rory Macnamara says:

    There is nothing “natural” about this. it is an insult to the people of this country and yet again shows the government’s incompetence and ignorance.
    of course, the ANC lapdog media were there to cover this ignominious event. shame again on you ANC politicians.

  • Helen Swingler says:

    What an effrontery to suggest these are our friends, Minister Pandor. The man can’t even look the camera in the eye for the ubiquitous grip and grin picture.

  • L Dennis says:

    I will devote myself to prayer. God keep Your glorious Hands over our beautiful country. Establish the just.

  • Christopher Gregorowski says:

    Naledi Pandor has sold her soul to the devil. I once admired her, but her performance today, and with it the performance of the ANC government, illustrate the decay in the party that is leading to the total collapse of this country. Ukraine is on fire. We should be breaking ties with Russia, but instead we are to participate in joint operations with the Russian military who are killing our Ukrainian sisters and brothers. No doubt it would deprive the pockets of our top brass of too much were we to take the morally correct stand. I am ashamed to be South African, just as I was throughout the years of apartheid.

  • Caroline Rich says:

    This is absolutely shocking! Using the words ‘friends’, and Russia in one sentence makes me want to vomit. It just goes to show the mentality of our ‘leaders’ and current government. After going through the horrors of apartheid, you’d think they would abhor this violence. I hang my head in shame.

  • Nils Heckscher says:

    I hang my head in shame as someone who lives here and loves this country, but sadly cannot vote. This government would not get my vote anyway. What an utter disgrace! Shame on you #SAGovernment

  • T Mac says:

    What a disgrace! Could someone please explain to the comrades that the West’s sanctions did more to end apartheid than the military assistance from Russia and China?

  • Clare Yeowell says:

    How niaive can you be? Do you really think Putin gives a damn about old ties to Russia? He is not your friend! Wake up before it’s too late!

  • Trenton Carr says:

    Now they can transfer all the ammo they need without prying eyes at sea. These numbnuts have damned our children’s futures for a couple of gold pieces stolen from the public.

  • Richard Bryant says:

    I suppose when the ICC charge putin for genocide, the ANC will then again try to take SA out of the ICC saying the system is biased against countries not in the West. Nice friends our bretheren in the ANC keep. Makes me want to cringe in shame.

  • Rencia Cloete says:

    Just disgusting! Words fail me!
    In what worldview can you even think of holding training exercises with a country that starts an invasive war and threatens nuclear action? How do you look yourself in the eye in the mirror Naledi Pandor?!
    Unbelievable!!

  • David Brunt says:

    Good reason for squirrel avoiding having to answer questions in Davos?

  • Neil Parker says:

    Naledi. You are infantile. You are simplistic. Not to mention spineless and gutless in failing to stand by your originally correctly expressed reaction to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Re “massive transfer of arms” – what on earth did you expect would happen when a sovereign state was invaded in such brutal fashion by your Russian chums ? Who invaded who here Naledi ? Which bunch of pathetic cowards are shielding under their nuclear umbrella whilst raining down death and destruction on civilian targets all over Ukraine ? Do you have any understanding whatsoever of this conflict when you and your government profess a desire to ‘mediate’ ? Is there even a single Ukranian who would talk to you right now – not a snowball’s chance in hell.

  • Katharine Ambrose says:

    Not dragged into taking side south africa has voluntarily sided with the Russian aggressors in Ukraine. Pariahs of the world unite you have nothing to lose but the good will of worthwhile nations.

  • Roslyn Cassidy says:

    Check out the Minsk Agreement. Our country’s position is more correct than incorrect. Check out the breakdown of negotiations by the USA in March. This is very likely to be a proxy war between the USA and Russia, cynically being played out on European soil. Who wins? The military-industrial complex. Arms dealers.

  • SARAH-JANE MEYER says:

    A classic example of how the ANC confuses the party with the state. The ANC is a friend of Russia, therefore South Africa is, too.
    If SA was really impartial, the government would have nothing to do with any of the parties involved in the war.

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