Non-alignment Is Undermined by Exercises With Iran and Russia

Statement by Chris Hattingh MP – DA Spokesperson on Defence and Military Veterans:

The media confirmations that Iranian naval vessels are en route to South Africa to participate in the Mosi III naval exercise alongside Russia make it increasingly difficult for the government to maintain that South Africa is genuinely pursuing a policy of non-alignment.

Hosting the military forces of Iran and Russia is not neutral. These are sanctioned states involved in active conflicts and serious human rights abuses. Allowing them to conduct military exercises in South African waters sends a clear political signal, whether government admits it or not.

South Africa’s policy of non-alignment is being hollowed out. What begins as quiet military cooperation slips into secrecy and ends in open alignment. It reflects a deliberate willingness to accept alignment with authoritarian states, while hiding behind the language of non-alignment to avoid accountability. When military actions no longer match its diplomatic claims, non-alignment ceases to be neutrality and becomes a quiet and calculated drift away from democratic partners.

This concern is heightened by recent public statements from Iran’s president describing his country as being in a state of war with the United States and Western powers, making South Africa’s decision to host Iranian naval forces deeply concerning.

At the same time, South Africa’s defence relationships with democratic countries are weakening. Joint military exercises with the United States have been cancelled, US participation in the Africa Aerospace and Defence exhibition failed, and diplomatic tensions are increasing. These outcomes are the predictable result of confused foreign policy and poor political judgement.

While South Africa recently voted against Russia at the United Nations, a single vote counts for little when it is contradicted by continued military cooperation with Russia and Iran, carried out with limited transparency and minimal parliamentary oversight.

The Democratic Alliance will demand full transparency on all military exercises involving sanctioned states, insist on urgent parliamentary oversight of the SANDF’s international engagements, and hold President Ramaphosa accountable to restore proper civilian control over defence policy.