From February 17 to 27, the Mosi II naval exercises will be held in the Indian Ocean, in which Russia, China and South Africa will take part.

On the part of the Russian Federation, the frigate Admiral Gorshkov of the Fleet of the Soviet Union and the medium sea tanker Kama will be involved in the maneuvers.

China will be represented by a destroyer, a frigate and a support vessel, South Africa by a frigate and two auxiliary vessels.

Also, units of the marine corps of the three countries will take part in the training, which will take place in the area of ​​​​the port cities of Durban and Richards Bay.

“The trilateral exercises will benefit all participating countries by combining their operational naval systems, improving joint command and control systems,” TASS quoted South African Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs Tandy Modise as saying.

The ministry also noted that these exercises will become a platform for the three countries to exchange military knowledge, skills and operational experience.

Earlier, the Ministry of Defense of South Africa informed that the crews of the ships will have to perform the tasks of combat coordination, counteracting pirates and responding to natural disasters.

The South African Defense Ministry called the exchange of operational skills and knowledge, as well as strengthening relations between countries, the goals of the maneuvers.

Mosi II

will be the second trilateral exercise of Russia, China and South Africa.

The previous ones took place in November 2019 near Cape Town.

Then from the Russian Federation, the Marshal Ustinov missile cruiser, the Vyazma medium sea tanker and the SB-406 rescue tug took part in them.

China has deployed the Project 054A Weifang frigate with guided missiles, while the South African Navy has deployed the Amatola frigate and the Drakensberg support ship.

During the exercises, the crews worked out anti-piracy and anti-terrorist operations at sea, as well as actions to provide assistance to those in distress.

Western reaction

Information about the joint exercises of Russia, China and South Africa was negatively perceived in the West.

Thus, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that Washington is concerned about this.

“As we have already said, the United States is concerned about the fact that any country conducts exercises together with Russia, while the Russian Federation is engaged in hostilities with Ukraine.

We've talked about this before.

Our position on this issue is consistent.

Of course, each participating country makes its own decision.

However – again – we have already said: this is really a concern for us, ”Jean-Pierre said at a briefing on January 23.

Later, the French newspaper L'Opinion stated that the report about the participation of South Africa and China in joint exercises with Russia caused a huge resonance in the Western community.

  • The frigate "Admiral Gorshkov" enters military service

  • RIA News

  • © Pavel Lvov

The publication emphasized that the West regards Mosi II as a threat and sees some symbolism in the fact that the exercises will be held on the anniversary of the start of a special military operation in Ukraine.

At the same time, as the authors of the material admit, despite the attempts of Western countries to isolate Moscow, Russia is only increasing its influence on the African continent.

The publication also pointed to the West's fears about the strengthening of the role of the BRICS, which includes Russia, China and South Africa.

L'Opinion writes that the conduct of naval maneuvers by three of the five members of this organization calls into question the hegemony of the West.

The authors of the article noted that at present there is a rapprochement of the BRICS countries in military terms, and the Mosi II exercises confirm this.

Western countries are also alarmed by the location of the maneuvers - the Mozambique Channel, which is a "strategic point for the supply of hydrocarbons," the publication emphasized.

Earlier, South African Defense Minister Tandi Modise said that the United States is putting pressure on African countries that maintain relations with Russia.

Thus, the official representative of the American embassy in the republic, David Feldman, said in an interview with CBS News that the United States "is concerned about the intention of the Republic of South Africa to hold naval exercises in February together with Russia and China."

On January 24, after negotiations with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who arrived in South Africa on a working visit, South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor called the joint exercises a natural consequence of strengthening friendly ties.

“From the perspective of the Republic of South Africa, Mosi II is an opportunity to further strengthen the existing strong ties between South Africa, Russia and China,” Pandor said.

  • Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov with South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor during a joint press conference following the meeting in Pretoria

  • RIA News

  • © Press Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation

In turn, Sergei Lavrov stressed the transparency of the maneuvers, noting that they do not violate international law.

“Three sovereign countries, without violating any norms of international law, are conducting exercises, and I don’t understand who this can cause a mixed reaction.

Probably from our American colleagues, who believe that only they can conduct exercises around the world, and not only at their more than 200 military bases around the globe, but also anywhere, ”said the Russian Foreign Minister.

Earlier, South African Ambassador to Russia Mzuvukile Maketuka expressed hope that joint naval exercises with the Russian Federation and China would become an annual event.

At the same time, the Republic of South Africa refused to participate in the US naval maneuvers, as told by Rear Admiral, Director of the US Naval Headquarters in Europe and Africa Chase Patrick on February 2 at a press conference on the Obangame Express 2023 exercises.

“We invite South Africa to participate in our exercises, but, as far as I remember, they refused to participate in them.

We have exercises planned soon, such as Cutlass Express, targeting a number of our partner countries in eastern Africa, which I think would be a great opportunity to involve South Africa, but they are not participating in this exercise this year, ” Patrick stated.

Demonstration of unity

The trilateral Mosi II exercises are of particular importance in the current geopolitical situation and create prerequisites for the possible formation of a new military-political bloc, said Alexei Podberyozkin, director of the Center for Military-Political Research.

“Holding Mosi II is of tremendous importance.

These exercises show that the BRICS, which used to be just a "club of interests", is becoming a significant player in the international arena.

The military-political rapprochement between Russia and China has been obvious for a long time.

Now South Africa has joined them, ”Podberyozkin explained in an interview with RT.

According to the head of the Russian-Chinese Analytical Center, Sergei Sanakoev, the Mosi II maneuvers indicate that Russia and China are far from the only countries ready to build a new multipolar world.

“The world is not limited to the conventional West.

Its hegemony cannot last indefinitely.

And Mosi II prove it.

They demonstrate the unity of the positions of Russia, China and South Africa, their armed forces and their readiness to repel any aggression, ”he said in a comment to RT.

  • Joint exercises of the Russian Federation, China and South Africa in Cape Town, November 2019

  • globallookpress.com

  • © Xinhua / Chen Cheng

According to military expert Ivan Konovalov, criticism of the exercises from the West is caused by the understanding that Western countries are losing their positions in Africa.

“Mosi II are making it clear to Western countries that they are rapidly losing their influence in Africa.

In addition, Russia, China and South Africa have demonstrated the expansion of their cooperation within the BRICS, which acted as a counterweight to the West in the region, ”Konovalov explained in a conversation with RT.

In turn, Podberyozkin recalled the great importance of the African region for the United States.

For his part, military expert Alexei Leonkov, in an interview with RT, noted the importance of the military-technical coordination of the fleets of the three countries - tactics are being worked out in case of possible aggression against one of the participating countries, it is determined what forces and means should be involved in such a situation.

“Based on the results of these exercises, in particular, the Russian military-industrial complex will understand what can be supplied to these countries so that they have modern armed forces and fleets that will be able to act together,” Leonkov explained.

He also stressed that Mosi II became a continuation of economic, financial and technological cooperation within the framework of the BRICS.

Nikolai Kostikin, an expert from the Bureau of Military-Political Analysis, also believes that the exercise on the coast of the Republic of South Africa is of particular importance.

“Thus, Russia, China and South Africa signal to the entire world community about their presence in the region, and also confirm the existence of close allied ties between the countries,” the specialist explained in a commentary to RT.

Holding Mosi II is important both for the allies of the three countries in the BRICS, and for other supporters of a multipolar world, Sergey Sanakoev is sure.

“In joint exercises, you look at your allies, and the allies look at you.

This allows you to develop tactics in case of a potential attack on one of the BRICS countries.

This is also seen by other states that are tired of American hegemony.

It is quite possible that later these countries will also join the exercises, and the BRICS candidates will be confirmed in the correctness of the intended path,” Sanakoev concluded.