In a move that has drawn sharp criticism from the United States, South Africa’s defence ministry has been accused of “cozying up to Iran” by hosting naval exercises involving Iranian warships off the country’s coast. The US has condemned South Africa’s actions, claiming they undermine “maritime security and regional stability” at a time when Iran is violently suppressing protests at home.
The military drills, dubbed “Peace Resolve”, began last Friday and are being led by China, with participation from other members of the BRICS+ alliance, including Russia. South Africa joined the BRICS group (comprising Brazil, Russia, India, and China) in 2010, and the alliance has since expanded to include several other developing nations.
The US embassy in South Africa has expressed “concern and alarm” over reports that the country’s defence minister and armed forces have defied government orders to ask the Iranian vessels to leave. In a strongly worded statement, the embassy said Iran’s involvement was “unconscionable” given the regime’s brutal crackdown on protesters.
In response, South Africa’s defence ministry has launched an inquiry to investigate the “serious allegations” made by the US. The ministry said that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s instructions had been “clearly communicated to all parties concerned, agreed upon and to be implemented and adhered to as such”.
However, critics have accused the South African government of hypocrisy, noting that it has remained silent on the human rights abuses in Iran while criticising other regimes. William Gumede, an associate professor at the University of the Witwatersrand, told the BBC that “the irony and hypocrisy” is that the African National Congress (ANC) government has not spoken out against the “democratic violations and human rights abuses” in Iran, despite its vocal criticism of other regimes.
The US has argued that South Africa’s actions do not amount to “non-alignment” but rather a “choice to stand with Iran”. The ongoing military exercises have further strained the relationship between South Africa and its traditional ally, the United States, as the two nations navigate the complex geopolitical landscape of the 21st century.
