Russia is a valued ally – South African president

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has hailed Russia as a “valued” ally and “friend” who has long supported his country, including during the struggle against apartheid.

Ramaphosa made the remarks during bilateral talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Tuesday on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan. Dozens of foreign leaders have gathered in Russia’s fifth-largest city for the three-day event of diplomatic discussions and high-level bilateral talks.

“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 right through to now,” the South African leader said, according to the transcript from the meeting published on the Kremlin website.

“We’re really delighted to be here and to know that we are going to have important discussions here in Kazan within the BRICS family,” he stated.

South Africa has maintained close ties with Russia despite external pressure to distance itself from Moscow in the wake of the Ukraine conflict. In the US, for example, a group of lawmakers has demanded that Pretoria be removed from the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which allows eligible sub-Saharan African countries duty-free exports to the American market.

However, Pretoria has insisted on a non-aligned stance, with officials, including Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, a minister at the presidency, declaring that the country’s relations with Russia are driven by BRICS partnerships. Ntshavheni told reporters late last year that, despite certain nations being “unhappy” with South Africa’s membership in the group, the government made the choice to build a resilient economy that is not “susceptible to one side of the global balance of powers.”

During talks with Ramaphosa on Tuesday, Putin emphasized that Russia-South Africa relations are based on “comprehensive strategic partnership, equality, and mutual respect.” 

“Russia and South Africa coordinate efforts on international platforms to establish a fair and multipolar world order,” Putin said.

According to him, trade volumes between the two countries have begun to increase, with a 3% rise in January-August this year, after a brief decrease.

“We need to work jointly on some aspects in order to expand and diversify mutual trade and investment. Promising spheres of cooperation include energy, industry, agriculture, science and innovation,” Putin stated.

Russia assumed the rotating BRICS chairmanship this year, taking over from South Africa. The economic bloc was founded in 2006. Its current member countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates – collectively represent around 46% of the world’s population and over 36% of global GDP, according to estimates from global financial institutions. More than 30 nations, including NATO member Türkiye, have applied to join, according to Russian officials.