By Hans Nichols
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen (click here) taunted Moscow that U.S.-led sanctions have impaired Russia's “ability to conduct war” and claimed their military is now scavenging to find crucial replacement parts for battlefield equipment.
Why it matters: Yellen made her comments in an interview with Axios in Johannesburg, South Africa, after warning government officials in Pretoria they shouldn’t violate U.S. sanctions....
Russia is actively recruiting countries to vote with them in the United Nations. It makes no sense for South Africa to isolate itself in a new alliance with Russia.
Interesting that the Russian Foreign Minister and Secretary Yellin are in the same geographical region at the same time. It looks like blocking and tackling to me.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (click here) has met Eritrea’s President Isaias Afwerki in Asmara during the Russian diplomat’s second tour of Africa to boost international support for Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine.
The visit comes after Lavrov visited officials in South Africa, one of his country’s most important allies on the continent, where on Monday he pushed back at criticisms over joint naval drills between Russia, China and South Africa scheduled for next month....
