178 Global News Post 2

(Photo: Oelofse, L. (2023, January 19). South Africa confirms naval drills with Russia and China . dw.com. Retrieved February 19, 2023, from https://www.dw.com/en/south-africa-confirms-naval-drills-with-russia-and-china/a-64448734)

This past Friday, South Africa planned to host a 10-day military exercise with Russia and China, named “Mosi II,” in the Indian Ocean. South Africa maintains relationships with these two countries, as well as much of the Western world. But diplomats there continue to defend this due to the fact that they are an “independent and sovereign state…” with “a right to conduct its foreign relations in line with its… national interests,” as stated by the South African defense ministry. What is interesting, though, is the fact that there is history behind these relationships. During much of the time around the Cold War, South Africa and Moscow joined forces against apartheid, and the relationship has not faded since. The article explains how South Africa is looking for non-Western allies. China is the country’s biggest bilateral trading partner, and it is seen as an anti-colonial ally in South Africa’s eyes. This relationship, along with the heightening threat of the military exercise, where Russia will display its new hypersonic cruise missile, is deterring many countries from entangling themselves with South Africa. It is being considered unsafe by many United Nations members because of the many problems that could arise. South Africa has declined to comment on the Ukraine or (possible) Taiwan invasions, even though the mayor of Cape Town condemned the actions. Another point that South Africa has maintained is related to its recent exercise with France, which proves that it is catering to both sides unbiasedly.

The author of the article, Carien du Plessis, is a journalist from Johannesburg who writes on South African politics. She is a very credible writer, as she writes for multiple outlets like The Guardian and The Huffington Post. Much of the evidence that she presents in this article is from diplomats of various countries and are first hand accounts of what they have said. She specializes in writing about politics and is very well-respected in the field, which encompasses international relations. Aside from that, there are no other explicit sources listed.

du Plessis, C. (2023, February 18). South Africa’s naval exercise with Russia, China raises Western Alarm. Reuters. Retrieved February 19, 2023, from https://www.reuters.com/world/south-africas-naval-exercise-with-russia-china-raises-western-alarm-2023-02-17/