State Dept: US Remains Committed To Bilateral Relationship With South Africa

US State Department Principle Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel has told reporters that the US, "remains committed" to the bilateral relationship with South Africa. Despite allegations from US officials today that South Africa had covertly supplied Russia with weapons.

• Patel: "The US has serious concerns about the docking of a sanctioned Russian cargo vessel at a South African naval port in December of last year... We have raised those concerns directly with multiple South African officials."
• US ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, told South African news outlet News24 today that the US believed weapons and ammunition were loaded onto Russian vessel 'Lady R.' Brigety, stating: “Among the things we noted was the docking of the cargo ship . . . which we are confident uploaded weapons and ammunition on to that vessel in Simon’s Town as it made its way back to Russia."
• The office of South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, said in a statement that he would set up an independent inquiry: “It is therefore disappointing that the US ambassador has adopted a counter-productive public position that undermines the understanding reached on the matter...”