South Africa must exercise caution in aligning its defence policy with NATO’s adversaries, a leading defence analyst has warned. Kobus Marais, a former Shadow Minister of Defence, spoke out following a series of events which could potentially damage South AFrica's relationships with the West.

The incidents included a visit by the commander of the South African Navy, Vice Admiral Monde Lobese, to Iran, the refusal to allow the export of South African ammunition to Poland, and the docking of a Chinese naval vessel in Cape Town.

In an interview with National Security News, Marais emphasised that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government should carefully consider the implications of its foreign and defence policies—especially as its key relationship with the United States hangs in the balance and South Africa’s continued participation of AGOA, the preferential trade agreement for Southern African states with the U.S. is being reviewed.