South Africa rejects US allegations of arms shipments to Russia

South Africa rejects US allegations of arms shipments to Russia

South African officials reacted on Friday to US allegations that a Russian vessel collected weapons from a naval base near Cape Town late last year, a move investors fear could prompt Washington to impose sanctions.

US Ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety said on Thursday he was confident a US-sanctioned Russian ship brought weapons aboard Simon’s Town base in December, suggesting the transfer was not in order with the Pretoria’s neutral position in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Western diplomats have been alarmed by South Africa’s naval exercises with Russia and China this year, and a visit by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

South Africa is one of Russia’s most important allies on a continent torn apart by Ukraine’s invasion in February 2022, but it says it is impartial and has refrained from voting on UN resolutions on the war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the conflict in Ukraine in a phone call with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday, the Kremlin said.

Ramaphosa’s office said on Thursday that an inquiry led by a retired judge would look into the US charge. On Friday, a minister in charge of arms control and a foreign ministry spokesman said South Africa did not approve any arms shipments to Russia in December.

Source: Terra

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