WORLD NEWS | Russia to test missiles in drills with China and South Africa

JOHANNESBURG, Feb. 17 (AP) — Russia, China and South Africa will begin naval drills off South Africa’s Indian Ocean coast on Friday in a show of their close ties amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s tensions with the West.

The 10-day exercise, called Mosi II, coincides with the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

Read also | Australia: Hindu temple in Brisbane receives threatening phone calls; demands to hold Khalistani slogans.

Earlier this week, a Russian frigate named the Admiral Gorshkov arrived in Cape Town, with the letters Z and V on its sides marking Russia’s weapons on the Ukrainian front , used in Russia as a patriotic symbol.

In protest, a small yacht flying the Ukrainian flag sailed past the Russian frigate in Cape Town harbour. South African protesters opposed to the drills are expected to demonstrate at the Russian consulate in Cape Town on Friday.

Read also | UK: Baby dies in tragic bathing horror in Leicester after toy clogs drain hole.

Admiral Gorshkov’s arrival has caused considerable controversy, as it is armed with the latest Zircon hypersonic missile, a weapon that Russia says can penetrate any missile defense system and hit sea and land targets.

The warship will test-fire the Zircon missile during joint naval exercises, Russian state news agency TASS reported. The test will be the missile’s first launch in an international exercise.

In addition to the Admiral Gorshkov, other ships taking part in the maritime exercise will include a Russian tanker for refueling, a South African frigate and three Chinese ships — a South African military frigate — according to a South African military statement. destroyer, frigate and support ship.

The joint naval exercise also comes amid tensions between China and Washington after its balloon flew over and was eventually shot down by the United States

The naval exercises will be held in the ports of Durban and Richards Bay in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province.

Media coverage of the exercise was limited.

South Africa has faced domestic criticism for taking part in the drills. The opposition Democratic Alliance said it showed South Africa was not neutral in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The South African Defense Force has simply described the naval exercises with China and Russia as “multinational maritime exercises”. In a statement, the military said the naval exercise would “strengthen the already thriving relationship” between South Africa, Russia and China, with the aim of sharing “combat skills and knowledge”.

At least 350 members of the South African navy and other military services are expected to take part in the exercise, the government said.

The three countries previously held the Mosi I naval exercise in Cape Town in 2019.

South Africa is one of many African countries that maintain friendly relations with Moscow and abstained from voting on a U.N. resolution condemning Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Russia and the United States have sought South Africa’s support since the outbreak of the Ukraine war, in a sign of Pretoria’s influence as a strategic partner on the continent. The two superpowers have been jockeying for influence in Africa, sending top officials to the continent on diplomatic missions in recent months.

Top U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, recently visited South Africa to deepen diplomatic, political and economic ties. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visits the White House in September 2022.

During a visit to South Africa last month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized the West’s support for Ukraine and emphasized Russia’s strong ties with South Africa and other countries on the continent. (Associated Press)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)