US welcomes SA probe into Russia arms supply claims
Washington has welcomed South Africa's probe into allegations our country supplied weapons and ammunition to Russia.
US ambassador to Pretoria Reuben Brigety said on Thursday that America believes the arms were loaded onto Russian ship the "Lady R" that docked at a Cape Town naval base in December.
State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters that the United States will engage directly with South Africa on the issue.
READ: South Africa supplied arms to Russia: US ambassador
"It certainly would be a welcome step, but again the deeply concerning piece of this is the docking of a santioned Russian vessel at a South African naval port.'"
But President Cyril Ramaphosa's office says it's concerned and disappointed that the issue was made public after having been the subject of discussions between the two countries recently.
The president's spokesperson Vincent Magwenya explained the nature of the recent discussion between US government officials and a South African delegation.
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"It is therefore disappointing that the US Ambassador has adopted a counter-productive public posture that undermines the understanding reached on the matter and the very positive and constructive engagements between the two delegations."
