South African President Says Arresting Putin In South Africa Would Be A 'Declaration Of War'

 

BBC: Arresting Vladimir Putin in South Africa would be 'declaration of war', says Ramaphosa 

Any attempt to arrest Vladimir Putin when he visits South Africa would be a declaration of war against Russia, the country's president says. 

Cyril Ramaphosa made the warning with weeks to go before an international meeting happens in Johannesburg, to which the Russian president is invited.

But if Mr Putin leaves Russian soil, he will be subject to an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant. 

South Africa is an ICC signatory and should therefore help in his arrest. 

Yet it has refused to honour that obligation in the past - allowing safe passage in 2015 to Sudan's then-President Omar al-Bashir who was wanted for war crimes against his own people.

Mr Putin has been invited to South Africa in August, when the country hosts a summit for members of the Brics countries - an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. 

This bloc of fast-growing economies is seen by some as an alternative to the G7 group of advanced economies.  

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Update #1: South African leader says that arresting Putin if he comes to Johannesburg next month would be ‘war’ -- AP 

Update #2: Arresting Putin Would be 'Declaration Of War,' South African President Says -- AFP  

WNU Editor: The South African President has a good relationship with Putin. He is not going to jeopardize it.

South Africa, Russia, And China Conducting Joint Naval Exercises Off South Africa's East Coast

 

VOA: Russian Warship Drills with South African, Chinese Navies Amid Criticism 

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA — Joint naval exercises including South Africa, Russia, and China get underway in waters off South Africa's east coast Friday, despite U.S. concerns and Ukrainian condemnation. Critics say the 10-day military drills will do little to benefit South Africa and act as a propaganda boost for Moscow on the one-year anniversary of its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. 

While the West is upping its arms shipments to help Ukraine fend off Russia’s invasion, South Africa begins wargames today with Russian warships that proudly support the offensive. 

Russia’s “Admiral Gorshkov,” which arrived in Cape Town this week, is marked with the Kremlin’s pro-war symbol, the letter 'Z.'  

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 South Africa, Russia, And China Conducting Joint Naval Exercises Off South Africa's East Coast  

S.Africa's Navy Stages Controversial Exercises With China, Russia -- AFP  

Russia to test missile in drills with China and South Africa -- AP  

Russia to test hypersonic missile in drills with China, South Africa – a first for an international exercise -- FOX News  

Russia set for joint naval drills 'with hypersonic missile' as major security summit begins -- SKY News

South Africa: Russia-China drills strain ties with West -- DW  

South Africa's naval exercise with Russia, China raises Western alarm -- Reuters  

Why is South Africa's navy joining exercises with Russia and China? -- BBC

Russian Warship To Join Naval Drills With China And South Africa

 

Al Jazeera: Russian warship to join drills with China, South Africa 

The report on Monday was the first official mention of the participation by the Russian frigate Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov. 

The frigate is armed with Zircon missiles, which fly at nine times the speed of sound and have a range of more than 1,000km (620 miles). 

The missiles form the centrepiece of Russia’s hypersonic arsenal, along with the Avangard glide vehicle that entered combat duty in 2019. 

“‘Admiral Gorshkov’ … will go to the logistic support point in Syria’s Tartus, and then take part in joint naval exercises with the Chinese and South African navies,” TASS said in its report, citing an unidentified defence source. 

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Update: Russian warship armed with hypersonic missiles to join drills with China, South Africa (Reuters)

WNU Editor: The drills will run from February 17-26 near the port cities of Durban and Richards Bay on South Africa’s east coast.

Russian Tu-160 Nuclear-Capable Bombers Land In South Africa

I was just sent this incredible video of one of the Tu-160s landing at AFB Waterkloof, taken from right under the approach path. pic.twitter.com/uwDZhtjBWE

— Darren Olivier (@darren_olivier) October 23, 2019

Warzone/The Drive: Russian Tu-160 Bombers Touch Down In South Africa In Historic First-Ever African Visit (Updated)

The bombers' arrival, which comes as Russia is hosting a major summit for African leaders, underscores the Kremlin expanding ties across Africa.

Two Russian Tu-160 Blackjack bombers touched down today at South African Air Force Base Waterkloof in the country's capital Pretoria, marking the first time these bombers have made a visit to anywhere in Africa. This comes on the same day that Russian President Vladimir Putin opened the first-ever Russia Africa Summit in Sochi on the Black Sea and as the Kremlin has been working to expand its influence across the continent.

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WNU Editor: The arrival of these bombers is occurring at the same time as this Russia - Africa summit .... Putin aims to boost Moscow’s clout with Russia-Africa summit (AP).

More News On Russian Tu-160 Nuclear-Capable Bombers Landing In South Africa

Russia lands nuclear bombers in Africa as Putin hosts continent's leaders -- Reuters
Russian Nuclear Bombers Sent to S. Africa in Rare Cooperation -- Bloomberg
Two Russian Tupolev Tu-160 bombers land in SA -- News 24
WATCH Russian Tu-160 nuclear-capable bombers land in South Africa (VIDEO) -- RT

Russia To Send Two Nuclear-Capable Tu-160 Bombers To South Africa

Tu-160 Andrey Korchagin / Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Moscow Times: Russia Sends Nuclear-Bombers to South Africa in ‘Friendly’ Visit

Russia has announced plans to send two nuclear-capable Tu-160 bombers to South Africa in what observers say would be the first such deployment on the African continent.

The Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bomber, nicknamed the White Swan in Russia, is a supersonic Soviet-era aircraft capable of carrying up to 12 short-range nuclear missiles and of flying 12,000 kilometers non-stop without refueling.

Cited by Interfax on Monday, Russia’s Defense Ministry said it will fly two Tu-160s, an Ilyushin Il-62 passenger jet and an Antonov An-124 military cargo plane to South Africa. Russian news agencies reported after midnight that the An-124 and Il-62 had already landed in the country.

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Update: Russian Bombers to Land in South Africa During Unprecedented Deployment (Military.com)

WNU Editor: Russia is definitely making its presence felt in Africa.