Fury as 'neutral' South Africa announces 'immoral' joint wargames with Russia ... trends now
South Africa's government has finally shown its colours and sided with the dictators by inviting Russia and China for war games next month.
After months of placating Russia's butchery in Ukraine, Cyril Ramaphosa has ditched his supposed 'neutrality' to the war by hosting the naval drills off the country's east coast near Durban and Richards Bay from February 17 to 27.
The move is the strongest indication yet of the strengthening relationship between South Africa, whose governing ANC party is allegedly in the pocket of a sanctioned Moscow oligarch, and the anti-West authoritarian regimes of China and Russia.
The 'multinational maritime exercise' has been slammed by South Africa's leading Daily Maverick newspaper as 'immoral, stupid and impractical'.
Chinese and Russian warships are pictured taking part in joint naval drills in the East China Sea in December
The drills will take place around the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and bring more focus on the refusal of South Africa - a leading voice on its continent - to side with the West and condemn Russia's actions.
The announcement also comes days before Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov is due to visit South Africa and hold talks with South African counterpart Naledi Pandor.
The South African government said last year it had adopted a neutral stance over Ukraine and called for dialogue and diplomacy.
But the upcoming naval drills have led the country's main opposition party to accuse the government of effectively siding with Russia.
The South African government denies it has taken sides and has called for the end of the war in Ukraine.
But the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), which incorporates all of its armed forces, said next month's naval exercise would 'strengthen the already flourishing relations between South Africa, Russia and China'.
The aim of the drills was 'sharing operational skills and knowledge', the SANDF said.
The three countries also conducted a similar naval exercise in 2019 in Cape Town, while Russia and China held joint naval drills in the East China Sea last month.
South Africa, a key western partner, was one of several African countries to abstain in a United Nations vote last year condemning Russia's invasion.
The United States and European Union had hoped South Africa would
