“South African President Orders Investigation into Country’s Alleged Arms Shipment to Russia Despite Neutrality Claims: US Ambassador’s Accusation”

2023-05-11 22:55:00

South Africa’s president has ordered an investigation after the US ambassador in Pretoria accused his country of supplying weapons to Russia

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said an investigation is underway after the US ambassador in Pretoria accused his country of supplying weapons to Russia despite its claims of neutrality in the Ukraine war. The government is launching an independent investigation led by a retired judge into the allegation, Ramaphosa’s office said in a statement today ( Fifth).

Earlier, the US ambassador to South Africa, Reuven Brighetti, told local journalists at a briefing that Washington was certain that a Russian vessel had picked up a supply of arms and ammunition from South Africa in December.

“Among the things noted was the docking of the Russian cargo ship ‘Lady R’ in the port of Simontown between December 6 and December 8, 2022, where we are sure it loaded weapons, ammunition… as it made its way back to Russia,” said Brig. TB – Briefing for local journalists, as quoted by the Reuters news agency.

“The arming of Russia by South Africa is unacceptable,” Brigiti said, adding that US officials had “deep concerns” that South Africa would not respect the policy of neutrality in relation to the Russian war.

Washington has repeatedly warned countries against providing material support to Russia, warning that those who do so could be denied access to the world’s most important markets.

Bridgetti spoke to reporters after returning to Pretoria after accompanying a high-level South African delegation to the United States.

South Africa held joint naval exercises with Russia and China in February – which it called routine exercises – about which the US and other Western powers expressed concern at the time.

Bridgetti said Thursday that the naval exercises and other issues, in addition to the arms shipment, contributed to concerns about South Africa’s questionable loyalty.

South Africa is one of Russia’s most important allies on a continent divided over its invasion of Ukraine, but has claimed to be impartial in the conflict and has abstained from voting on UN resolutions on the war.