South Africa advocates for postponement of joint military exercise between Russia and China
South Africa Postpones Joint Naval Exercises Ahead of G20 Summit
The South African Department of Defence has announced the postponement of joint naval exercises with the Russian and Chinese navies, scheduled for November in North Asia. The decision comes as South Africa prepares to host the G20 summit in Johannesburg on Nov. 22 to 23.
The three countries – South Africa, China, and Russia – are members of the five-nation BRICS bloc, which also includes Brazil and India. The joint exercises would have coincided with South Africa's hosting of the G20 summit.
In a statement, the department did not provide a specific reason for the postponement request, but it did mention that the military wants to ensure that the joint exercises do not impact the logistical, security, and other arrangements for the G20 summit.
The department is currently engaging with its counterparts in the People's Republic of China to find a mutually suitable date for the rescheduled exercises. However, there is no information available yet about the exact date for the rescheduled multinational military exercises of China, Russia, and South Africa.
South Africa has previously participated in naval drills with both China and Russia. The country has also conducted military exercises with Brazil, France, Germany, and the US in the past few years.
The G20 summit in Johannesburg is expected to be a significant event, with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping, along with his Brazilian and Indian counterparts. As of now, there is no confirmation from US President Donald Trump regarding his attendance at the summit.
The G20 summit in Johannesburg will be the first time that South Africa hosts the event. The country has been a member of the G20 since 2010, and this summit presents an opportunity for South Africa to showcase its capabilities and commitment to global issues.
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