Russia-South Africa Relations

Natalya Volchkova

The South African Institute of International Relations published in February 2013 a study titled "Russia-South Africa Relations: Collaboration in BRICS and the G-20" by Natalya Volchkova, assistant professor of economics at the New Economic School and policy director at the Center for Economic and Financial Research (CEFIR), and Maria Ryabtseva, a junior research assistant at CEFIR.

The paper investigates the features of Russia-South Africa relations in light of their membership in BRICS and the G-20.  Though historically Russia has had a long-lasting political relationship with South Africa, to date economic collaboration between the countries continues to be limited, and Russia places more weight on cooperation in international relations rather than on economic opportunities within the BRICS forum.