The US has accused South Africa of supplying arms to Russia in a covert naval operation, sharply escalating a overseas coverage disaster for President Cyril Ramaphosa over the nation’s ties to the Kremlin and its place on the Ukraine warfare.

Reuben Brigety, US ambassador to South Africa, informed native media on Thursday the US believed that weapons and ammunition was loaded onto the Woman R, a sanctioned Russian vessel that docked within the Simon’s City naval dockyard close to Cape City in December.

“Among the many issues we famous was the docking of the cargo ship… which we’re assured uploaded weapons and ammunition onto that vessel in Simon’s City because it made its approach again to Russia,” he mentioned, in feedback reported by South Africa’s News24. 

“The arming of the Russians is extraordinarily severe, and we don’t take into account this difficulty to be resolved,” he added. The US embassy and South Africa’s overseas ministry didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark. Ramaphosa’s workplace mentioned it might reply “in the end”.

South Africa has mentioned it’s non-aligned within the warfare, however Ramaphosa’s authorities is already below stress over indicators it’s favouring Russia, for instance by holding joint naval workout routines this 12 months. 

Ramaphosa has additionally prolonged an invite for Russian president Vladimir Putin to attend a Brics leaders’ summit in Johannesburg in August – a transfer that has backfired on Pretoria after the Worldwide Legal Court docket indicted Putin for warfare crimes. South Africa, a member of the ICC, can be legally obliged to arrest Putin if he travels there.

Sydney Mufamadi, Ramaphosa’s nationwide safety adviser, not too long ago visited the US to elucidate South Africa’s stance and to attempt to protect commerce hyperlinks.

The scandal over the Woman R is now prone to overshadow these efforts.

Owned by Transmorflot, an organization positioned below sanctions by the US final 12 months, the Woman R appeared to change off its transponder because it made the cease in Cape City after a voyage down the west coast of Africa.

After the ship left port, South Africa’s defence minister mentioned it had delivered a consignment for the nation’s defence forces, however supplied no particulars on what the ship might have picked up in Cape City.

The South African authorities in January formally denied that it had authorized any arms gross sales from South Africa to Russia since Moscow started its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February final 12 months.