China, Russia and South Africa conduct a joint naval drills in the Indian Ocean
Russia, China and South Africa will start a 10-day joint naval exercise in the Indian Ocean off the eastern coast of South Africa on Friday aimed at strengthening their relations, official sources said.
Operation Mosi, which means smoke in local Tswana language, coincides with the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
The South African Army Command announced that the exercise will take place off the coast of Durban and will bolster the already thriving relations between South Africa, Russia and China.
South Africa, a member of the BRICS group of emerging economies along with Russia, China, India and Brazil, has so far taken a neutral stance on the war in Ukraine.
South Africa abstained from voting at the United Nations to condemn the war last year.
According to the official Russian news Tass agency, Russia is participating in the drills with the Admiral Gorshkov frigate and a naval tanker.
