Russian naval visit causes tensions; US cancels joint military exercises

The Russian Navy training ship Smolny arrived in Cape Town on 5 August as part of a training mission launched in late June from Kronstadt, Russia. The vessel’s itinerary, encompassing prior stops in Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe, and the Republic of Congo, reflects its broader engagement with African maritime nations. During its brief sojourn in Cape Town until 8 August, the South African Navy extended a formal welcome, hosting a function onboard attended by 30 of its officers.

The visit’s operational highlight was a series of Passage Exercises involving the South African Navy frigate SAS Amatola and the Multi-Mission Inshore Patrol Vessel SAS Adam Kok III. These drills, intended to bolster interoperability and maritime collaboration, underscore the enduring ties between the South African and Russian navies, reinforced through their BRICS affiliation. The South African Navy emphasized this partnership, noting its history of bilateral exercises and skills exchanges.

The MK Party tried to stir up controversy by claiming the government refused to allow Russian sailors ashore, declaring: “We cannot support a government that seeks to undermine long-term bilateral ties and trading relations with the Russian state.” The Economic Freedom Fighters echoed this disapproval, labelling the decision “shameful” and invoking Russia’s historical support during apartheid. Both parties emphasised the diplomatic significance of the Russia-South Africa relationship.

Clayson Monyela, Deputy Director-General at the Department of International Relations and Co-operation, countered that the sailors’ inability to disembark stemmed from their lack of passports, a prerequisite for shore leave. The Border Management Authority clarified that the crew possessed only seafarers’ identification, inadequate for entry. Monyela stressed that diplomatic relations remain robust, citing a recent call between Presidents Cyril Ramaphosa and Vladimir Putin, and affirmed the vessel’s diplomatic clearance.

The Smolny’s voyage, carrying 400 personnel, including 200 naval cadets and 15 Tanzanian students, extends next to Tanzania and Vietnam, concluding in Vladivostok by late September. Since its 1976 commissioning, the 138-metre ship has trained over 45,000 cadets. This episode highlights South Africa’s delicate navigation of historical alliances and contemporary diplomatic constraints.

This accompanies news that the Shared Accord military exercise between the US and South Africa, scheduled for August 11-22 in the Free State, was canceled just 10 days prior, on August 1, due to a dispute over security arrangements.

The US embassy informed South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation that the cancellation resulted from the SA Ministry of National Defence barring armed US soldiers from disembarking their aircraft to protect it – a requirement the US Department of Defense (DoD) deemed non-negotiable under the 1999 Status of Forces Agreement. The SA National Defence Force (SANDF) insisted on providing its own protection, but the DoD upheld its policy of using US personnel, a stance that previously led to cancellations of similar events in 2023.

This abrupt decision deals a significant blow to military cooperation and already strained US-SA bilateral relations, further aggravated by recent Trump administration tariffs on SA imports. Ricardo Teixeira, editor of ProtectionWeb, lamented the lost opportunity, stating, “The SANDF have cut their noses to spite the US,” predicting an end to future joint exercises. The exercise, focused on humanitarian assistance and veterinary services, aimed to enhance training and partnerships between the US Army’s Southern European Task Force, Africa, the New York National Guard, the US Air Force, and the SANDF.

The timing exacerbates the setback, coinciding with a US Africa Command (Africom) briefing emphasizing the need for US-African security coordination against regional threats like ISIS and Mexican drug cartels operating in South Africa. An Africom spokesperson underscored that such collaboration is vital to disrupt transnational crime and extremism, making the cancellation a missed chance to bolster both military readiness and regional security efforts at a critical juncture.