Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited South Africa this Monday for talks with one of its most important allies on a continent that is divided over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and related Western attempts to isolate it.

Lavrov was scheduled to meet with Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor, in a trip some opposition parties and the small Ukrainian community have condemned as insensitive.

Some analysts believe that this is another indication by the two world’s powerful countries of strengthening relationship with Africa.

The exercise is expected to take part between the 17th to the 27th of February at the offshore South Africa’s east coast near the cities of Durban and Richards Bay.

South Africa has been standing in the voice of neutral in the invasion hence it has been calling for dialogues and diplomacy.

In 2019, South Africa, Russia and China conducted similar naval exercises  in Cape town.

Expected subjects to be discussed between Russia’s foreign Minister and his South Africa’s counterpart  are the economy, investing, food and industry  and the  major topic Ukraine  and Russian tension.

Russia and South Africa have had close ties, especially with South Africa’s ruling party.

Russia back then when it was Soviet Union, it supported the ANC infighting against apartheidism in addition South Africa and Russia are members of BRICS  of which South Africa will be chairing this year.