South Africa will next month go ahead with naval exercises off its eastern coast with Russian and Chinese warships in a decision that could further strain its relationship with some of its biggest trading partners. Clearly it can alienate us from other important trade partners, the west," said DA MP Kobus Marais. "This is in the best interests of Russia," Marais said, calling it "another bad judgment, an embarrassment." The US, Germany, Japan and the UK are leading trading partners for South Africa, while Russia isn’t in the top 15. Spokespeople from South Africa’s defense ministry and navy didn’t answer calls made to their phones or immediately reply to emails.

Source: News 24 January 16, 2023 16:11 UTC