The South African presidential administration said that statements by the American ambassador, who accused the country of sending weapons to Russia, weakened bilateral relations.

U.S. Ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigetti said South Africa allegedly sent weapons to Russia on a cargo ship that secretly docked at a naval base near Cape Town in December 2022 and stayed there for three days.

According to the AAA news agency, the South African presidential administration stressed on Thursday evening that it would conduct an independent investigation into the US ambassador's allegations regarding the shipment of weapons to Russia.

According to the US ambassador, South Africa's sending weapons to Russia during the war in Ukraine is a very serious issue and contradicts the African country's declared neutral position.The statement of the American diplomat was made at a time when, after the start of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Western countries, condemning Moscow and increasing economic pressure on this country, put on their agenda the provision of comprehensive political, financial and military support to Kiev.