The military exercise, which has been named “Mosi II”, begins outside the South African coastal city of Durban on Friday and will last until Sunday 26 February.
The exercise, which takes place on the anniversary of Russia’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine, is seen as another example of growing military cooperation between Russia and China.
ON THE ROAD: Here is the Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov on its way to Durban where the exercise will take place. Photo: Reuters
Will fire hypersonic weapon
Russia has announced that it is sending the frigate Admiral Gorshkov to the exercise, which is equipped with hypersonic missiles of the Tsirkon type.
The missiles fly at nine times the speed of sound and have a range of 1,000 kilometers, according to the BBC.
The state-run Russian news agency Tass writes that the frigate will conduct a test launch of the Tsirkon missile. It is the first time it has been done during such a military exercise.
READY FOR THE EXERCISE: “Admiral Gorshkov” docks in Cape Town on 13 February. Photo: AFP
Sticks to neutrality
– All countries carry out military exercises with their friends around the world, said South Africa’s Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor when Russia’s Sergey Lavrov visited the country in January.
It is the second time South Africa has hosted naval exercises with Russia and China. Pandor says that they have also carried out several exercises with the USA, France and Germany in recent years.
RUSSIAN VISIT: South Africa’s foreign minister Naledi Pandor (th) received his Russian colleague Sergey Lavrov in January. Photo: Reuters
Until now, South Africa has maintained its neutrality in the Ukraine war and last year abstained from voting on the UN resolution condemning Russia’s invasion.
The US is worried
– The United States has concerns related to any country that trains with Russia, while Russia is waging a brutal war against Ukraine, the White House then stated about the upcoming exercise.
Criticism of the Kremlin has been absent from both China and South Africa, which have not introduced sanctions against Russia either.
