Pretoria (Agencies): Russia’s plan to send several nuclear bombers, including an Il-62, An-124, and Tu-160 strategic bomber aircraft, to South Africa has been postponed. This deployment, which would have marked the first time these aircraft landed on the African continent, was intended to reaffirm diplomatic ties and strengthen military cooperation between the two nations.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) announced that the scheduled arrival of the Tupolev Tu-160 jets at Air Force Base Waterkloof on October 29 has been postponed.
The visit was meant to display defense cooperation and enhance military-to-military relations, but it faced criticism from one of the main members of South Africa’s coalition government.
The SANDF stated that the trip aimed to provide the South African Air Force with exposure to large military air assets, including the Il-62, An-124, and Tu-160 ‘Blackjack’ bombers.
The visit was also part of a broader framework of military partnerships with several defense forces globally.
The postponement of this visit has raised questions about South Africa’s non-aligned stance in global conflicts and its close ties with Russia, which have caused concern among Western investors and could potentially lead to economic penalties