Fake neutrality

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Finland has always been a friend of Namibia. From 1917 they contributed to faith (Lutheran) health and education at Onandjokwe.

Marti Athisari was the Untag transition facilitator in 1990, leading to our peaceful independence.

When the Russian special operation invaded Ukraine, a sovereign state, in February 2022, the Finns took fright. They joined Nato to protect their independence. Sweden followed. Nato moved east – unintended intimidation consequence for Putin!

For historical, liberation struggle reasons, both Namibia and South Africa remained neutral (sitting on fence) in this debacle.

For economical reasons, the future of SADC lies with the EU and the USA (Agoa). They invest and open trade opportunities. See the massive new US Embassy in Windhoek. It is a motion of confidence in Namibia.

South Africa is part of Brics and may have supplied weapons to Russia! This can boomerang on trade, to the detriment of the whole SADC region. The Chinese are a present and growing development (debt trap) factor in Africa.

Nobody is really independent. We are all trade interdependent, and must choose our partners with care, for a better future.

Apply the “golden rule” to foreign affairs, do unto others as you would have them do to you (good neighbours). Russia is a huge country, but its economy is small (size of Spain).

It rattles its nuclear arsenal as a “threat” – mutually assured destruction. We need peace for progress.