JUST before US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will visit South Africa as part of a renewed focus on the continent, she got a stark example of the challenges Washington faces in countering influence by its main global rivals Russia and China.
Military officials in the African country warmly welcomed Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday and publicly defended naval drills planned for next month with Russia and China, stressing the “strong bonds” between the three nations.
That comes as Washington continues its unrelenting condemnation of Moscow for its war in Ukraine and a day after Yellen voiced her frustration with the pace of debt talks with Zambia, criticizing Beijing for the delays.
Yellen’s trip — part of the run-up to an Africa visit later this year by President Joe Biden — has so far served as a reminder of the entrenched relationships many countries have on the continent with
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