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South Africa, which has always refused to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, announced on Thursday a joint operation with Russian and Chinese navies in February.
“South Africa will host the navies of China and the Russian Federation in a multilateral maritime exercise from 17 to 27 February,” the South African Armed Forces confirmed in a statement.
“To strengthen the already prosperous ties between South Africa, Russia and China,” the joint operation will take place off South Africa’s largest port, Durban, and some 180 kilometers further north at Richards Bay. said the statement.
“This is the second time such an exercise has taken place in front of three navies, the first being in Cape Town, South Africa in November 2019,” recalled the Army.
These operations will involve more than 350 South African military personnel “from several services and departments,” along with “Russian and Chinese counterparts aimed at sharing skills and operational knowledge,” the statement added. Stated.
South Africa, one of the continent’s great powers, has taken a neutral stance since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, refusing to join Western calls to denounce Moscow. ing.
Meanwhile, the opposition Democratic League condemned the decision, saying it meant that South Africa’s ruling African National Congress Party had effectively backed Moscow, contrary to Russia’s “neutral” stance on the war in Ukraine.
The Chinese, Russian and South African military exercises have been named Operation Moshi, which means smoke.
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