- President Cyril Ramaphosa views Russia as a valued ally and friend.
- The relationship between South Africa and Russia has puzzled observers and western governments.
- Despite Russia being a small player in South Africa's imports, their partnership continues to grow.
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Even though South Africa and Russia don't share cultural or linguistic ties, their relationship remains surprisingly strong, a bond that has left many observers and Western governments puzzled for years.
South Africa views Russia as a valued ally, President Cyril Ramaphosa stated during a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday.
The meeting took place on the eve of the BRICS summit of emerging economies, set to be held in the Russian city of Kazan, Reuters reported.
"We continue to see Russia as a valued ally, as a valued friend who supported us right from the beginning, from the days of our struggle against apartheid," Ramaphosa said, according to a clip of the two leaders' meeting shared on social media by South Africa's government news agency.
"We are going to have important discussions here in Kazan within the BRICS family," the South African president added.
Russia–South Africa relations
Even though South Africa and Russia don't share cultural or linguistic ties, their relationship remains surprisingly strong, a bond that has left many observers and Western governments puzzled for years.
When it comes to trade, Russia isn’t a big player in South Africa, making up just about 0.4% of the country’s imports. Meanwhile, heavyweights like the U.S., the U.K., and the EU account for over a third of South Africa’s imports.
But despite these numbers, their partnership continues to grow, likely fueled by their shared membership in the BRICS group of nations.
In September, the South African Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, on the margins of the St. Petersburg International United Cultures Forum, stated that the bond between Russia and South Africa is "unbreakable."
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