Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov travels to South Africa for a visit

Shortly before the visit of the head of Russian diplomacy to Pretoria, Russia and China announced that they were carrying out military maneuvers near the South African coast on the Indian Ocean.

Here, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a press conference on January 18, 2023. © Alexander Zemlianichenko / AP

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South Africa receives Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday, January 23, who meets his counterpart, Minister Naledi Pandor.

The Russian minister signs his return to the African continent after a tour of Egypt, Congo-Brazzaville, Uganda and Ethiopia in July.

South Africa is a strong ally, because Pretoria says it is neutral in the Ukrainian conflict and refuses to talk about a Russian invasion, almost a year after the start of the war.

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With our correspondent in Johannesburg,

Romain Chanson

Serguei Lavrov and Naledi Pandor will finally be able to talk to each other face to face after having telephoned each other last August.

At the end of this phone call, Russia hailed the " 

responsible position of Pretoria

 " which refuses to turn its back on Moscow despite pressure from the West.

The Americans

also protested against the forthcoming organization of naval military maneuvers.

In February, South Africa will host military exercises off its coasts with Russia and China.

This training is not new, but it falls in full commemoration of the 1 years of the war in Ukraine.

“ 

We encourage South Africa to cooperate militarily with democracies that share our mutual commitment to human rights

 ,” reacted the American embassy.

South Africa speaks with everyone and there will be no shortage of topics for discussion.

Serguei Lavrov and Naledi Pandor could talk about the next BRICS summit, which is to be held in August in South Africa.

Pretoria holds the rotating presidency of this group of emerging countries

, and hopes to strengthen economic exchanges.

Russia-South Africa relations have a bright future ahead of them.

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To read also: Africa and Brics, towards a new dynamic?

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  • South Africa

  • Russia

  • Sergei Lavrov

  • Diplomacy

  • BRICS