Johannesburg, South Africa - South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned that arresting Russian President Vladimir Putin would be tantamount to a declaration of war on Russia, according to court papers released on Tuesday. The statement comes as South Africa grapples with the decision of hosting the Russian leader for the upcoming Brics summit in Johannesburg next month, despite an international criminal court arrest warrant against Putin.
The Democratic Alliance (DA), South Africa's leading opposition party, has filed an application in court seeking to compel the government to arrest and hand over Putin to the International Criminal Court (ICC) should he set foot in the country. However, President Ramaphosa's responding affidavit deems the application "irresponsible" and underscores the potential risks to national security.
Ramaphosa argued that Russia had explicitly stated that the arrest of its sitting president would be viewed as a declaration of war. Consequently, he emphasized that it would be inconsistent with South Africa's constitution to jeopardize the country's safety by engaging in a conflict with Russia.
The court papers, originally labeled "confidential" when signed in June, were made public following a ruling by the court to disclose related documents. The revelation of Ramaphosa's stance on the matter provides insight into the diplomatic predicament South Africa faces as it balances its obligations as an ICC member and the potential ramifications of arresting a sitting head of state.
The controversy surrounding Putin's visit and the arrest warrant has created a significant diplomatic challenge for South Africa. As a member of the ICC, the country is expected to implement arrest warrants issued by the court. However, apprehending a serving president on foreign soil raises complex legal and political considerations.
The Brics summit, scheduled to take place next month, brings together the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa to discuss economic cooperation and regional issues. Putin's presence at the summit could create a political impasse if South Africa fails to act on the ICC warrant.