Africa-Press. Lawrence Mbatha, Chief of the South African Army, held talks with his Russian counterparts during a visit to Moscow, which his hosts stated resulted in an agreement to enhance relations between the land forces of the two countries.
This was Mbatha’s second official visit to Russia, as part of a military delegation that the Russian Ministry of Defense stated would visit military academies and defense companies after discussions in the capital.
The two sides discussed joint projects at the headquarters of the Russian Army General Staff aimed at enhancing the combat readiness of the armies of both countries, according to a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense. Agreements were also reached regarding the strengthening of cooperation between the land forces in various fields.
Mbatha also held discussions with Alexander Matovnikov, Deputy Commander of the Russian Ground Forces, focusing on bilateral military cooperation and joint projects aimed at improving the combat readiness of both armies.
South Africa has sought to maintain its neutral stance regarding the conflict in Ukraine while preserving its strong ties with Moscow as a member of the BRICS group of emerging economies.
Mbatha was seen paying respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow before engaging in talks with Matovnikov, who thanked the political and military leadership of South Africa for what he described as its “steadfast position” towards Russia and their shared vision of a multipolar world.
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the two sides reached understandings regarding the continued strengthening of cooperation between the land forces in multiple areas, without disclosing details of the agreed projects or timelines for their implementation. This current visit marks the second of its kind by Mbatha to Russia, leading a military delegation from South Africa, which is scheduled to visit several military academies and Russian defense industry companies.
The Russian Ministry of Defense clarified that discussions at the headquarters of the Ground Forces focused on implementing joint projects aimed at improving operational efficiency and combat readiness. However, the Russian side did not specify the nature of these projects, whether they included military training, exchange of expertise, or procurement of equipment and technical-industrial cooperation.
South Africa maintains historical political and military relations with Russia, rooted in the former Soviet Union’s support for anti-apartheid liberation movements. Defense relations between the two countries have expanded in recent years through military visits, training programs, and exchanges of expertise, alongside South Africa and Russia’s participation in joint military activities and exercises.
This new meeting comes at a time when Moscow is working to expand its defense relations with African countries through training programs, military and technical cooperation, and delegation visits to Russian academic institutions and defense industries. Mbatha’s second visit to Moscow continues the direct communications between the military leaderships, amidst a trend towards transforming political relations within BRICS into practical cooperation in defense, training, and military readiness.
