After India, South Africa resists Western pressure to cut ties with Russia

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 11

South Africa has publicly pushed back at American attempts to cut off ties with Russia with its Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor stating in the presence of US Secretary of State Aniony Blinken that her country won’t be pushed around and many in Africa have more faith in ties with BRICS countries than the West.

“US Secretary is here for what? Why did he not follow Pelosi to Taiwan...We are part of BRICS and we will buy Russian Oil... South Africa was not part of nonsense,’’ she said during a joint press conference with Blinken who was in Johannesburg for the South Africa-US strategic dialogue as part of a three nation tour to Africa.

Pandor also said that the people of Palestine deserve the same attention from the international community that the people of Ukraine receive and added that Africa has at times experienced patronising and bullying from the West.

South Africa like India is among the several Asian and African countries that have taken a neutral stance on the Ukraine war. Many African countries have declined to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Some are among more than a dozen African governments that have signed deals with the Wagner Group of Russia to shore up their security.

After being told off by Pandor, Blinken was again put on a limb by Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta over the imprisonment of Opposition leader Paul Rusesabagina. Biruta told Blinken that Rwanda cannot release Rusesabagina because it respects its own judiciary and asked “partners” of Rwanda to respect Rwandan sovereignty, Rwandan laws and its institutions.

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