Days after Washington accused Pretoria of transferring armaments covertly to Russia, the South African military confirmed Monday that the head of the country’s ground troops was in Moscow for discussions.
According to the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), Lieutenant-General Lawrence Mbatha, the head of the South African Army, is now in Moscow for a bilateral meeting between the two militaries.
The SANDF stated in a statement that the meeting was “planned well in advance” as part of “a long-standing arrangement” and that it was a “goodwill visit” at the Russian army’s request.
Russian news outlets earlier on Monday reported that Mbatha was leading a group that addressed “issues relating to military cooperation and interaction,” citing the nation’s defense minister.
Reuben Brigety, the US ambassador to Pretoria, said last Thursday that the US thought that a Russian cargo that had moored at a naval port in Cape Town in December had been loaded with weapons and ammunition.
President Cyril Ramaphosa responded angrily to the incendiary comments, refusing to reject the accusation but announcing that an inquiry would be opened.
The pledges to look into the claims were warmly received by the United States.
The Ukraine crisis, which has largely isolated Moscow on the global arena, has not received a strong condemnation from South Africa.
The nation, an African giant with moral heft due to its win against apartheid, declares its desire to remain neutral.
However, detractors point to a number of recent events as proof of a tilt in favor of the Kremlin.
Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, called Ramaphosa on Friday after the affair.
According to the Kremlin, both presidents decided to “intensify mutually beneficial ties”.
Ramaphosa said on Monday that despite “extraordinary pressure” to choose sides and the nation being pushed “into a contest between global powers” over Ukraine.
“We reject the idea that Russia benefits more from our non-alignment stance than other nations. Additionally, we do not consent to its endangering our relationships with other nations, Ramaphosa said in a weekly presidential email.
He said that Pretoria was in favor of a peaceful conclusion to the crisis.
Mbatha “visited educational institutions of the ground forces and enterprises of the military-industrial complex” in Russia on Monday, according to the reports of the agencies.
According to the Russian news agency Interfax, “Agreements were reached to further increase cooperation between ground forces in various fields.”
Russian military academies will be visited, the SANDF stated.
