No Russian bombers in South Africa yet

Russia’s plan to send two strategic bombers to Pretoria as a display of defense cooperation was postponed after the plan was criticized by one of the main members of South Africa’s coalition government.

The scheduled arrival of the Tupolev Tu-160 jets at Air Force Base Waterkloof on Oct. 29 “has been postponed,” the South African National Defense Force said in a brief statement Wednesday.

The trip had been meant to “reaffirm the diplomatic ties” between the countries, the military said in a separate statement on Tuesday.

South Africa’s close ties with Russia have unnerved some investors who worry that the US, which Pretoria counts as one of its biggest trade partners, may impose economic penalties on the African nation.

Last week, the rand weakened over a report about a credit-line agreement between South Africa and a sanctioned Russian bank.

Russian news agency Tass on Monday reported that the two nations’ armies agreed to deepen their cooperation.

“Some Western investors may become concerned that South Africa intends to further enhance cooperation with Russia’s armed forces,” said Piotr Matys, a currency analyst at InTouch Capital Markets.

“Western countries led by the US could potentially penalize South Africa over its relationship with Russia, which would have negative consequences for the rand.”

The plan to receive two of Russia’s so-called Blackjack bombers raised questions over South Africa’s non-aligned stance in global conflicts, the Democratic Alliance said in a statement.

The party is the second-largest in South Africa’s four-month-old coalition government that’s led by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

“If South Africa’s neutrality is genuine, the DA calls on Ramaphosa to extend the same invitation to Ukraine’s military personnel and equipment that has been extended to Russia,” the DA said in a statement.

Last year, the US ambassador to South Africa triggered a diplomatic furor when he alleged that Pretoria supplied weapons to Russia. A judicial inquiry found no evidence to back the allegations.

Tensions between the US and South Africa have since eased. The ambassador, Reuben Brigety, earlier this month met South African Defense Minister Angie Motshekga to discuss a planned joint military exercise next year.

The Tupolev Tu-160 jets are part of Russia’s strategic long-range forces that can deliver conventional and nuclear weapons.