Defense Minister Thandi Modise says Exercise Mosi, South Africa’s military exercise held with China and Russia in the country last month, has actually benefited SA’s navy.
Modise answered questions in parliament on Wednesday.
“This exercise really benefits the SA navy, not just the SA navy, because we bring all the weapons. The benefit for us in South Africa is more than for us bringing the ships here because the exercise has two parts – closer to home and deeper sea sports,” says Modise.
Also read: SA naval exercises with China, Russia
“We want to confirm that the Admiral Gorshkov and the Russian tanker Kama docked and participated. We want to add that China brought three ships – a destroyer, a frigate and a replenishment ship. We participated in the exercise and only contributed personnel. This is all done in Exercise Mosi.
Russia vs Ukraine war
Modise further defended the country’s decision to hold military exercises with Russia while the latter and Ukraine were still at war.
South Africa was also heavily criticized for its “neutral” stance on the war, although Modise said the country’s stance was not “neutral” as it encouraged the two countries to engage in dialogue.
Modise said countries that send military aid to the two warring countries should be condemned.
Also read: SA opens joint naval exercises with Russia, China
“This is an exercise between three militaries that have an agreement and have exercised together before. This military also belongs to a sovereign country that can take the decision to continue the exercise,” said Modise.
The first Training Motion was conducted in 2019.
According to Modise, this is the second operation and it was planned and budgeted, and it is already on schedule.
No missiles were tested
When ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba claimed last month that Russia would test the hypersonic Zircon missile, “which has never been seen in public, and is believed to be almost unstoppable – able to destroy enemy targets as far away as Durban from Cape Town.”, Modise denied the claim.
“No hypersonics or missiles were fired or tested because that was not the purpose of the exercise,” Modise said on Wednesday.
Also read: Russia’s plan to test ‘super missile’ in SA sparks uproar