Russia and South Africa set for joint naval drills with Zircon hypersonic missiles
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Russia is due to take part in a joint naval exercise with China and South Africa that could see the test launch of a hypersonic cruise missile – as Western leaders assemble for a major security conference.
The Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov armed with the Zircon weapon has been deployed for 10 days of joint drills in the Indian Ocean. The vessel docked in Cape Town last weekend, emblazoned with the letters Z and V.
Earlier this month, Russia’s TASS news agency reported that the drills will involve a training launch of Zircon.
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The Russian defence ministry said it last carried out a simulated launch of the missile – which Vladimir Putin has described as “unstoppable” – last month.
Related: NATO has no defence against Russia’s hypersonic Zircon cruise missile
South Africa’s decision to host the Mosi II military exercise, which begins Friday, has prompted criticism at home and fuelled western fears about Russian and Chinese influence across Africa.
The government, headed by President Cyril Ramaphosa, says it maintains a neutral stance on the Ukraine war and abstained from a UN resolution condemning the Kremlin last year.
Ahead of the drills, its defence ministry said: “South Africa, like any independent and sovereign state, has a right to conduct its foreign relations in line with its national interests.”
The country has previously held exercises with other international partners, including France in November.
But Reuters news agency reports that several EU and NATO diplomats based in South Africa “do not approve”.
Opposition parties to Mr Ramaphosa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) have also criticised the drills.
But the ANC has long had close-knit ties with Moscow, as the Soviet Union supported the then-banned party in its struggle against the country’s racist apartheid regime.
Source: Russia and South Africa set for joint naval drills with Zircon hypersonic missiles (substack.com)
