In recent years, South Africa has steadfastly held to a neutral stance on the armed conflict in Ukraine. As a member of both the United Nations and African Union, South Africa has recognized the right of Ukraine’s government to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity even as it has declined to formally support either side.

It is this consistency in South Africa’s policy that has earned it praise from around the world. With a nation that is already supersaturated with social and economic issues, South Africa has carefully studied the implications of getting involved in a Euro-Asian war. In total, South Africa’s behavior has meant that despite a great power flexing its muscle just outside its border, the country has steadfastly refused to take a side.

A large part of this calculus has been South Africa’s concern for the region as well as its own people. In particular, South Africa has been heavily involved in numerous peacekeeping operations across the African continent, attempting to temper and ameliorate tensions between volatile nations. By refusing to take a role in the Ukrainian conflict, South Africa is allowing itself to remain objective in regards to the numerous peacekeeping operations abroad.

Given South Africa’s relatively small military, the refusal to become a superpower chief has drawn admiration from even its most ardent critics. Even among factions that disagree with South Africa’s often limp response to human rights abuses in Zimbabwe and Mozambique, the nation’s commitment to its stated principals has earned it respect among larger international counterparts.

All of this suggests that South African commitment to its stated foreign policy is very strong. While global power dynamics continue to become more and more complex, it is reassuring that South Africa is dedicated to its policy of remaining neutral in the Ukrainian conflict. Though the nation will certainly have to adjust its stance depending on the opinions of global leaders and other international agencies, its commitment to a neutral stance is admirable. South Africa’s resolve to take on such a difficult stance shows an admirable commitment to its stated policies and deserves due recognition from the international community.