Russia-South Africa Relations: It's Complicated

 The South African Institute of International Affairs recently posted a 16-minute podcast titled "South Africa and Russia: It's Complicated."

The Russia-China relationship generates uncomfortable headlines today.  It is based on the strong anti-apartheid position of the Soviet Union.  In addition, Vladimir Putin and former South African President Jacob Zuma solidified the ties.

Russia's invasion of Georgia, Crimea, and Ukraine complicated the relationship.  South Africa fell back on a policy of non-alignment.  By 2022, there was confusion in Pretoria concerning policy towards Russia.

Today, South Africa-Russia trade is negligible and Russian investment in the country is modest.  South Africa and Russia, both members of BRICS, agree on the need to revise the world order but not much else.  

War with Iran and Implications for Africa: 7 May Panel Session

 The Global Affairs Forum of the Africa Governance Centre, an independent think tank based in Accra, Ghana, is hosting a panel discussion on 7 May dealing with the implications of the Iran conflict for global stability and African strategic interests.  It begins at 9:00 am Eastern Time in the United States and Canada.  You can register for the event at this link.  

The panelists are:

--Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, High Representative for Silencing the Guns, African Union

--Amb. David Shinn, adjunct professor of international affairs, George Washington University

--Dr. Isaac Olawale Albert, professor of African history, peace and conflict studies, University of Ibadan

--Dr. Victor Kofi Afetoriom Doke, research fellow and lecturer, Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre

--Dr. Paa Kwesi Wolseley Prah, postdoctoral fellow, Lingnan University, Hong Kong  

An Analysis of Russia-Africa Ties and Role of US

 Riddle published on 18 December 2025 an analysis titled "Russia-Africa Ties Catch Global Tailwinds in 2025" by Ivan U. Klyszcz, research fellow at the International Centre for Defence and Security, a think tank in the Nordic and Baltic space.  

Russia and Egypt are cohosting this week the 2nd Russia-Africa ministerial conference, which is setting the agenda for the 2026 Russia-Africa summit.  The focus is on expanding trade with Africa, which is currently smaller than Ukraine's trade with the continent.  Russian investment barely registers, and Moscow has fallen from the number one arms supplier to number two.

On the other hand, Russia's covert and security ties with Africa remain robust.  Moscow now has 22 "Russia House" branches in Africa, opened two new embassies in 2025, and has plans for five more.  The author adds that "with the US abandoning its leadership role, Moscow--working in tandem with Beijing--gains more space to offer governments worldwide an alternative to the US-led, post-Cold War order."  In addition, President Trump "has expressed open contempt (if not hatred) toward the continent."

From Cutting Losses with Houthis to Seeking Nuclear Agreement with Iran

 Dialogue Works posted on 9 May 2025 a 52-minute video interview titled "Trump's Wake-up Call: Yemen's Chaos Forcing a Deal with Iran?" hosted by Nima R. Alkhorshid with Chas Freeman, former US ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Assistant Secretary of Defense, and Trita Parsi, Quincy Institute.  

This informative discussion begins with an analysis behind the US desire for a ceasefire with the Houthis in Yemen and leads to the prospects for a US-brokered nuclear deal with Iran.  In between, it underscores the developing cracks between the Trump administration and Bibi Netanyahu and the challenges in dealing with Iran while maintaining good relations with the Arab world.  Both commentators praised the Trump administration for realizing the futility of continuing airstrikes on the Houthis and ending the campaign even if the deal excluded Israel.  

Russia in the Middle East and North Africa

 The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace published on 2 December 2024 a study titled "Russia in the Middle East and North Africa: Arms, Power Projection, and Nuclear Diplomacy" edited by Amr Hamzawy.

The study contains the following chapters:

Introduction - Russia in the Middle East and North Africa--Disrupting Washington's Influence and Redefining Moscow's Global Role by Amr Hamzawy.

1. The Soviet Roots of Putin's Foreign Policy Toward the Middle East by Mark N. Katz.

2.  Russia's Balancing Act in the Levant by Maha Yahya and Mohanad Hage Ali.

3.  Soviet and Russian Policies Toward Egypt: Two Snapshots by Amr Hamzawy and Rain Ji.

4.  A Mixed Balance Sheet: Russia's Uneven Influence in the Maghreb by Frederic Wehrey.

5.  Autocrats United: How Russia and Iran Defy the U.S.-led Global Order by Nicole Grajewski and Karim Sadjadpour.

6. China and Russia in the Gulf: A Cacophony of Influence and Interest by Robert Mogielnicki.

7,  Turkiye and Russia: An Unequal Partnership by Sinan Ulgen.

8.  Russia's Enduring Presence in the Middle East by Eugene Rumer and Andrew S. Weiss.

9.  Russia's Great Energy Game in the Middle East by Sergey Vakulenko.