Commentary
Combined military and naval drills between South Africa, Russia, and China began on Feb. 22. The 10-day wargames coincided with the one-year anniversary of the Russian War in Ukraine. Leading up to the start of the exercises, Russian warships docked in South Africa. The ships were marked with the letters “Z” and “V”, which have become pro-Kremlin/pro-Putin symbols of Russia’s war in Ukraine. The meanings of the letters are not entirely clear, but there is speculation that the letter “Z” means “Za pobedu” (the Russian term for “victory”), while the “V” likely stands for the “power of truth.” Allowing Russian vessels to dock in South Africa—and particularly those displaying such symbols—sends a political message that South Africa is slipping into the Chinese-Russian camp.
