South Africa and Russia have agreed to strengthen military cooperation following an official visit to Moscow by South African Army Chief Lieutenant General Lawrence Mbatha, in a move that underscores Russia’s continuing effort to deepen defence partnerships across Africa despite growing geopolitical tensions with the West.
Lieutenant General Lawrence Mbatha, the chief of the South African Army, shakes hands with Russian Colonel General Alexander Matovnikov, deputy commander-in-chief of Russia’s land forces, during a meeting in Moscow, Russia July 28, 2026, in this still image taken from video. Russian Defence Ministry/Handout
- South African Army Chief Lieutenant General Lawrence Mbatha has agreed to strengthen military cooperation with Russia during an official visit to Moscow.
- The visit comes as Russia broadens defence partnerships across Africa through military training, equipment and security cooperation.
- Analysts say the engagement reflects Pretoria’s long-standing strategic ties with Moscow while maintaining its policy of non-alignment.
- The development also underscores Russia’s continued effort to expand its influence on the continent despite Western efforts to isolate Moscow.
Mbatha met senior Russian military officials on Monday, where both sides discussed expanding cooperation between their land forces, improving combat readiness and pursuing additional joint projects.
According to Russia’s Defence Ministry, the two countries reached agreements to deepen bilateral military ties during the visit.
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Mbatha’s delegation is also scheduled to visit Russian military academies and defence companies, suggesting cooperation could extend beyond diplomacy into training and military education.
The visit marks Mbatha’s second official trip to Russia as head of the South African Army, highlighting an increasingly institutionalised military relationship between the two BRICS members.
Russia’s broader Africa strategy
The engagement comes at a time when Moscow is steadily expanding security partnerships across Africa.
Earlier this month, Russia pledged deeper military cooperation with Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger through the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), promising continued military and technical assistance as the three countries battle worsening insurgencies.
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Russia has also maintained defence partnerships with countries including the Central African Republic and Equatorial Guinea through military training, security assistance and the deployment of its state-backed Africa Corps.
BRICS allies South Africa, Russia deepen military ties as Moscow expands Africa strategyBI Africa
The Kremlin has repeatedly said Africa remains a strategic priority and that future cooperation will include defence and other “sensitive” sectors alongside trade and investment.
South Africa’s relationship with Russia differs significantly from those of several West African military-led governments.
Unlike Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, which have turned to Moscow for security support after severing defence ties with France and other Western partners, South Africa’s cooperation is built on decades of diplomatic, military and political engagement dating back to the Soviet Union’s support for the anti-apartheid struggle.
Pretoria has consistently maintained that its foreign policy is non-aligned, arguing it seeks constructive relations with both Western countries and Russia.
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That position has drawn criticism from some Western governments, particularly after South Africa hosted joint naval exercises with Russia and China following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.
The latest military engagement also reinforces growing cooperation within the expanded BRICS grouping, where South Africa and Russia continue to advocate a more multipolar global order.
According to Russia’s Defence Ministry, Russian officials praised South Africa’s stance on international affairs, including what they described as Pretoria’s commitment to a multipolar world and its refusal to align with Western sanctions against Moscow.
While no new defence procurement agreements were announced during Mbatha’s visit, analysts say expanding cooperation in military education, doctrine and institutional exchanges could further strengthen relations between the two countries as Russia seeks to consolidate its strategic presence across Africa.
