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Politics

South Africa Rules Out Ending Friendship With Russia

  • US, European Union have criticized its stance on Ukraine war
  • South Africa is holding bilateral discussions with Russia
The Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov, ahead of naval drills between Russia, South Africa and China, in Richard’s Bay, South Africa.

The Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov, ahead of naval drills between Russia, South Africa and China, in Richard’s Bay, South Africa.

Photographer: Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg

South Africa’s government will not break ties with Russia at the behest of other countries, its foreign affairs minister said ahead of bilateral talks.

“There are some who don’t wish us to have relations with an old historical friend,” International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor told journalists in Pretoria. “We have made it clear that Russia is a friend we have had cooperative partnerships for many years,” she said.