There has been some controversy around President Vladimir Putin’s planned attendance at the 15th BRICS meeting, which is scheduled to take place in Durban, South Africa, at the end of August.
According to media outlets, under pressure from the West over the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Russian President Putin, the government is considering withdrawing as host of this year’s BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China) meeting.
War crimes were alleged, and on March 17, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant, which “requires” nations who are signatories to the Rome Statute to carry out the arrest. As a signatory, South Africa would be obligated, while non-signatories such as China or India would not be.
South Africa’s early declaration that it had provided diplomatic immunity and privileges to all international diplomats attending the BRICS summit added fuel to the controversy. The Rome Statute became an even more pressing issue after this.
According to media outlets in South Africa, under pressure from the West over the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, the government is considering withdrawing as host of this year’s BRICS meeting.
War crimes were alleged, and on March 17, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant, which “requires” nations who are signatories to the Rome Statute to carry out the arrest. As a signatory, South Africa would be obligated, while non-signatories such as China or India would not be.
South Africa’s early declaration that it had provided diplomatic immunity and privileges to all international diplomats attending the BRICS summit added fuel to the controversy. The Rome Statute became an even more pressing issue after this.
To escape the legal predicament of arresting Russian President Vladimir Putin if he visits South Africa, authorities indicate that South Africa is considering shifting the BRICS conference in August to China.
China has offered South Africa security assistance to push back against the pressure it has been receiving.
When Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong met with South African Police Minister Bheki Cele on Thursday in Beijing, he expressed China’s willingness to “strengthen the security” of the next BRICS conference, which will be held in Johannesburg from August 22-24.
While some support South Africa’s “neutral” posture on the Ukraine crisis, others are skeptical in light of recent allegations from US officials of covert agreements involving South African arms sent to Russia.
