South Africa’s friendship with Russia bodes badly for a future driven by long-term Western-sourced investments, and more towards one defined by a party-state developmental model, favouring party security and privilege over the national interest — or at ...
On 10 June, the Estonian foreign ministry summoned the Russian ambassador to protest about remarks made by President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin comparing himself
“Apparently, it is also our lot to return [what is Russia’s] and strengthen [the country],” said Russia’s president. “And if we proceed from the fact that these basic values form the basis of our existence, we will certainly succeed in solving the tasks that we face.”Just six days after this startling admission of a war of imperial conquest, President Cyril Ramaphosa called Putin, the second time he had done so since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February.
Another factor concerns the impact of such cosiness on South Africa’s stated values and its democratic model. Talk of a “strategic partnership” with Russia, a country that ranks poorly on human rights indicators , carries with it the dangers of infection by association. This, too, exposes a key strategic weakness of the BRICS concept: that it lacks common values apart from a vague anti-Westernism and desire for self-enrichment.
Until now, China has presented itself as a neutral peacemaker. But the propaganda does not entirely match the reality. Whatever Putin’s aims were and have become — from taking over Ukraine in its entirety to a more limited focus on creating a land bridge to Crimea and cementing Russian control of the Donbas — the Ukrainians and the West also have a say, whether the Russian President likes it or not.this month, Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, has outlined Kyiv’s theory of victory. Warning that: “
The West was easily cowed by Russia’s threat of the use of nuclear weapons, hence Nato’s reluctance to step up to the plate, with the West seemingly forgetting that it also possessed such weapons. It assumes that the Russian economy will survive, somehow, in part through evading sanctions, and that Russia also does not collapse militarily. It assumes that the West will not take issue or even target those supportive of the Russian position, including China, not only over its relations with Russia, but in the light of its threats towards Taiwan.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Is it really the case that ‘polluters pay’ in South AfricaIs it really the case that ‘polluters pay’ in South Africa - The truth is that our carbon tax is way too low to act as a real deterrent
Read more »
Is it really the case that ‘polluters pay’ in South AfricaIs it really the case that ‘polluters pay’ in South Africa - The truth is that our carbon tax is way too low to act as a real deterrent
Read more »
Ghanaian striker spotted in South Africa as Soweto's giants attempt to sign himThe race is on to sign a Ghanaian striker. Michael Sarpong was spotted in Gauteng as he attempts to seal a move to a Soweto-based team in the DStv Premiership. KaizerChiefs orlandopirates swallows PSL
Read more »
AIRLINE TRAVEL TEST: Ryanair drops Afrikaans ‘prove you are South African’ quiz after backlashAfter intense backlash for making South African passport holders do an Afrikaans quiz to prove they are South Africans and their passports aren’t fake, budget airline Ryanair has dropped the quiz.
Read more »
Makro owner making big grocery delivery push in South Africa – and it has a key advantageMassmart has announced that it plans to rapidly expand its online marketplace OneCart in the coming months as part of a growing push into the internet space.
Read more »