South Africa will not be bullied into taking sides in Ukraine-Russia war, says minister Naledi Pandor

South African International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor said attempts to bully countries into taking sides in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war is unacceptable.

South Africa would not be bullied if certain countries mount pressure into taking sides in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor said. Attempts to bully countries into taking sides in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war is unacceptable, Naledi Pandor said.

The minister was referring to taking sides between Russia, China and the West in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. The US has been pursuing to isolate China in African countries. Relations between South Africa and the US have been strained after the former remained neutral over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Naledi Pandor said she was glad that Blinken had confirmed that the US had not asked South Africa to choose sides (between Russia and Ukraine). However, she said that her government had experienced pressure from certain countries in Europe to align with their policy on Ukraine.

On Monday, Naledi Pandor hosted US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is on a three-nation Africa tour.

"I’m glad that Secretary Blinken has confirmed that America is not asking us to choose. I don’t recall any attempt by the United States to do that. But in terms of our interaction with some of our partners in Europe and elsewhere, there has been a sense of patronizing bullying toward “you choose this or else,"Naledi Pandor said.

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The South African minister also criticised a US bill, which she says could penalise African countries for not towing the line on the Ukraine conflict, known as the “Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act.”