Portrait of Julius Malema
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Julius Malema on Russia

Pro-Russia alignment (strong)

TL;DR

Julius Malema explicitly states he would align with Russia in the war and supply it with weapons against imperialism.

Key Points

  • He publicly declared that in the Ukraine war, he would align with Russia and would even supply the weapons to them.

  • He frames his support by stating that Russia is engaged in a war against imperialism, which aligns with his party's policies.

  • He stated that while the South African government may claim neutrality, he personally views Russia as South Africa's friend based on historical support during liberation struggles.

Summary

Julius Malema has taken a clear and strong position aligning himself and his party with Russia in the context of the conflict in Ukraine. He views the situation as a war against imperialism, asserting that any agenda pushing back against imperialist agendas falls within the policies of his party. He has publicly stated that he would go beyond friendship and actively align with Russia in the war, even offering to supply them with weapons to aid their cause. This stance positions Russia as a friend and ally of South Africa, in contrast to the perceived adversarial stance of the West.

He has also noted that while South Africa officially claims to be non-aligned regarding the war, he personally supports Russia based on historical ties, suggesting that nations should not forget who supported them during their own liberation struggles. Furthermore, when questioned about South Africa's capacity to supply military hardware, he stated that while the government lacks the capacity, his personal alignment remains firm. This reflects a consistent, pro-Russian foreign policy leaning within his political narrative.

Key Quotes

"We've got a long-standing relationship with Russia (from) when it was still under the Soviet Union, and Russia has helped us to be where we are. We would not be dictated to by the USA in terms of who becomes our friend"

Frequently Asked Questions

Julius Malema's position is strongly supportive of Russia, particularly in the context of the Ukraine war. He has stated a personal desire to align with Russia in the conflict and to supply them with weapons.

He supports Russia because he views the conflict as a fight against imperialism, which he states aligns with the policies of his party. He also references historical ties, noting Russia's support for the ANC during apartheid.

Yes, Julius Malema explicitly stated he would supply weapons to Russia if he were in a position to do so. However, he has also noted that the current South African government lacks the capacity to provide such military supplies.