The South African Army announced today that it will hold joint military exercises with Russia and China in February, with the aim of "strengthening" the growing relations between the three countries.

"As a way of strengthening the already flourishing relations between South Africa, Russia and China, a multinational maritime exercise between the three countries, called 'Mosi', will take place in the areas of Durban and Richards Bay, in the province of Kwa-Zulu Natal, between February 17 and 27, 2023," the Army said in a statement quoted by Lusa.

In a statement published on his Twitter account, he said that "it will be the second time that such exercises involving the three naval forces will be held, after the first one in November 2019 in Cape Town, South Africa".

"The maneuver coordinators completed all the necessary coordination and preparation arrangements for these maneuvers through virtual planning conferences held in early December 2022," he specified.

In this regard, he indicated that 350 South African military personnel will take part in the maneuvers "alongside Russian and Chinese counterparts" in order to "share operational capabilities and knowledge".

South Africa, one of the countries on the African continent that refused to take a position on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, took over the rotating presidency of the BRICS group, which also includes Brazil, Russia, India and China, in December 2022.