A South African delegation led by the commander of its National Defense Force, General Rudzani Maphwanya, held meetings with Russian defense officials in Moscow on Monday with the aim of bolstering bilateral military relations, according to the press service of the Russian Defense Ministry.
The visit began with a ceremonial wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Aleksandr Garden, led by General Oleg Salyukov, who commands the Russian Ground Forces.
The official talks took place at Russia’s Main Directorate for International Military Cooperation, where the delegations discussed strategic military partnerships.
“For Russia, cooperation with African partners is strategic and long-term, which provides for friendly, equal relations,” Salyukov said.
The two parties agreed on measures to strengthen military cooperation in various spheres. According to the ministry, the South African delegation will visit the military training institutions of the Ground Forces, the Academy of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, historical sights, and museums in and around Moscow.
Last year, Russia and South Africa initiated projects focused on joint development and production of military equipment, according to the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation. This collaboration included establishing a service center for the repair of helicopters from Russia.
During the Army-2024 forum in August, Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov met with officials from Burkina Faso and Niger to discuss defense partnerships. The meeting addressed broader security cooperation, particularly with an eye toward enhancing stability in Central Africa.