The MEPs recalled that at the end of January, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited South Africa, among other things, to discuss the details of preparing joint military exercises with the Republic of South Africa and China.
South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor then noted that holding such events “with friends” is “a natural course of development of relations,” the parliamentarians specified.
At the same time, they recalled that earlier South Africa at least twice abstained from voting in the UN General Assembly on resolutions condemning Russia's actions in Ukraine.
“Given South Africa’s position on Russia, does the VP-High Representative agree that any EU funding to South Africa should be delayed until further notice, and if not, why not?”
the politicians asked Borrell, given the above.
They also asked the head of EU diplomacy if he was going to meet with Minister Pandor "to express the EU's concern about South Africa's position on the Ukrainian crisis."
On February 17, the joint military exercises of Russia, China and South Africa Mosi II began in the Indian Ocean.
The maneuvers, which will last until February 27, will be attended by ships and units of the marine corps of the three countries.
They will perform missions in combat coordination, countering pirates and responding to natural disasters.
As Sergei Lavrov stressed, the above measures do not violate the norms of international law.