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US-South Africa ties explode on Russia arms claim
Asia Times ^

Posted on 05/17/2023 4:18:09 AM PDT by FarCenter

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has put tremendous strain on the strategic partnership between South Africa and the United States. Since the invasion, the South African government has been unwilling to demand that Russia unilaterally put an end to hostilities and withdraw its forces from the sovereign territory of its neighbor.

This is despite the fact that South African foreign policy is supposed to be conducted in accordance with the values and principles set forth in the constitution. This includes the advancement of human rights and promotion of democracy.

The South African government has not appeared especially bothered by this apparent contradiction in their international relations. From its perspective, it has assumed a reasonable stance in a world characterized by an “unequal application” of Western principles in armed conflicts and other insecure environments. To be fair, South Africa is not alone. Just ask India and Vietnam.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has exposed the practical limits of the strategic partnership between South Africa and the United States. Recent events suggest those limits include the provisioning of military products and services to the Russian government and Russian private military contractors.

Now, questions have been raised as to whether the South African government crossed that line and, if so, does that count as a redline in the strategic partnership for the US government. While the world awaits the answers, it is important for regional observers to reflect on the series of events that led to this historic low in relations between South Africa and the United States.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
If we break with South Africa, how are we going to make catalytic converters for our cars?
1 posted on 05/17/2023 4:18:09 AM PDT by FarCenter
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To: FarCenter

America...you installed communists into power there...


2 posted on 05/17/2023 4:29:46 AM PDT by 2banana (Common ground with islamic terrorists-they want to die for allah and we want to arrange the meeting)
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To: FarCenter

More fracturing of America’s influence under the Guidance of the Biden regime.


3 posted on 05/17/2023 4:32:57 AM PDT by hinckley buzzard ( Resist the narrative.)
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To: hinckley buzzard

“More fracturing of America’s influence under the Guidance of the Biden regime”

Socialist not getting along with Marxist. Kind of like the old days of Hitler and Stalin.


4 posted on 05/17/2023 4:43:47 AM PDT by DAC21
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To: 2banana

and how did “America” do that, America-hater?


5 posted on 05/17/2023 4:47:39 AM PDT by canuck_conservative (there would be no more need for NATO, if Russia could just stop attacking its neighbors)
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To: DAC21

A few weeks back someone made the comment on a ukr thread that if the war went hot between the usa and russia , it would be russia vs the rest of the world. It demonstrates how ignorant most americans are about the rest of the world. The predatory corporatists we unleash on developing countries to financially rape them and steal their resources don’t win us friends abroad. If the war goes hot expect the prc to join the russkies. The chinese are not stupid, they know they’re next on the american empires “to do”, list.


6 posted on 05/17/2023 4:51:53 AM PDT by ozarker
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To: 2banana

I had a conversation with a young black South African in the mid 1990’s.
He was a student at Oral Roberts Univ.
He believed that the blacks and whites were much better off under white rule.


7 posted on 05/17/2023 4:52:54 AM PDT by Iceclimber58
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To: FarCenter

Liberals torn. South Africa being friends with Putin.


8 posted on 05/17/2023 4:58:49 AM PDT by AppyPappy (Biden told Al Roker "America is back". Unfortunately, he meant back to the 1970's)
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To: AppyPappy

“...the strategic partnership between South Africa and the United States.” Please, someone explain where this strategy is enunciated so I may shed my ignorance.


9 posted on 05/17/2023 5:14:44 AM PDT by Bookshelf
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To: FarCenter

Mandela and MLK,Jr. are laughing in Hell because Communism is making headway again.


10 posted on 05/17/2023 5:25:51 AM PDT by vetvetdoug
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To: FarCenter

South Africa = Zimbabwe 2.0


11 posted on 05/17/2023 5:26:20 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Two Words: BANANA REPUBLIC!)
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To: ozarker

“... if the war went hot between the usa and russia , it would be russia vs the rest of the world...”

Most of the world does not want to live under the yoke of homosexual depravity. That is the choice between the West vs the East. Getting sodomized by homosexuals or living under the boot of Communism.

That is one hell of a choice. I would prefer mutual assured destruction.


12 posted on 05/17/2023 5:48:16 AM PDT by Flavious_Maximus (Tony Fauci will be put on death row and die of COVID!)
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To: AppyPappy

BRICS-
Brazil
Russia
India
China
South Africa
4/23/23 19 others wanting to join (Iran and Saudi Arabia formal requesting membership at annual summit in Cape Town, SA)


13 posted on 05/17/2023 6:13:30 AM PDT by griswold3 (Truth, Beauty and Goodness )
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To: FarCenter

“This is despite the fact that South African foreign policy is supposed to be conducted in accordance with the values and principles set forth in the constitution. This includes the advancement of human rights and promotion of democracy.”

Seems to me that the liberation of Russian-speaking areas of Ukraine, by Russia, meets the above, at least for most of the people living there. Really no different than the British/US invading France to liberate it from Nazi Germany.


14 posted on 05/17/2023 7:30:58 AM PDT by BobL
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To: FarCenter

15 posted on 06/17/2023 9:07:15 AM PDT by linMcHlp
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