South Africa: South Africa calls US minister over his claims it is equipping Russia

South Africa: South Africa calls US minister over his claims it is equipping Russia

By Ahmad Hadizat Omayoza, Mamos Nigeria

The US ambassador has been summoned by South Africa’s foreign ministry due to claims he made that the US had provided Russia with weapons and ammunition for its war in Ukraine.

In a statement that was shared on Twitter, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa stated that Naledi Pandor, the foreign minister of South Africa, would also meet with Antony Blinken, the secretary of state of the United States.

Reuben Brigety, the US ambassador, said at a press conference on Thursday that in December of last year, South Africa loaded weapons and ammunition onto a Russian vessel that is under sanctions at the Simon’s Town naval base near Cape Town. Brigety stated that the arms were then shipped to Russia.

He referred to Russia’s “arming” of South Africa as “fundamentally unacceptable.”

After Brigety’s remarks, the South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, affirmed an examination was in progress into the visit by the Russian freight transport. He stated that any evidence US intelligence officials had regarding the alleged arms would be used in the investigation, which began before Brigety made his allegations public. His office said in a proclamation there was presently “no proof” that arms were stacked on to the boat in South Africa.

The unfamiliar service said in its articulation that there was “no record of an endorsed arms deal by the state to Russia connected with the period/occurrence being referred to”.

The Related Press has freely confirmed that the Woman R visited the South African maritime base from 6 to 8 December, as Brigety guaranteed, and that it is attached to an organization that has been put under endorse by the US for moving weapons for the Russian government and helping its conflict exertion.