nuclear-news

South Africa halts artillery shells to Poland over fears they will be used against Russia

South Africa has suspended a major arms deal with Poland, leading to Poland canceling the contract

Grzegorz Adamczyk. ReMix, 28 Aug 24

South Africa has withheld the delivery of 155mm artillery shells to Poland, citing concerns that the munitions could be sent to Ukraine, according to Ezra Jele, head of the secretariat of the South African government body overseeing arms contracts. After two years of uncertainty, Poland has canceled the contract.

In early 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Poland, along with several non-NATO countries, placed an order for 55,000 Assegai artillery shells from Denel Munition, a South African company and subsidiary of German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall. At the time, Jan-Patrick Helmsen, managing director of Denel Munition, expressed pride in the deal, noting NATO’s continued trust in their globally recognized technology.

However, later that year, South Africa’s National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) halted the contract’s fulfillment. While export permits to Poland and other countries were not canceled, they were indefinitely suspended, with no clear timeline for resolution, according to Jele………………………………………………… more https://www.sott.net/article/494487-South-Africa-halts-artillery-shells-to-Poland-over-fears-they-will-be-used-against-Russia

September 4, 2024 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | South Africa, weapons and war