The Complexities of International Relations: US-South Africa Dispute, Putin-Zelensky African Peace Initiative, and SA's Risky Ties with Moscow.
The US and South Africa are in a dispute over allegations that South Africa ran guns for Russia via a sanctioned Russian merchant vessel, the Lady R, which docked at Simon's Town naval base in December 2022. South Africa denies the allegations and has established an independent inquiry to establish the facts. The dispute risks straining relations between the two countries and could impact South Africa's access to US markets under the African Growth and Opportunity Act.