|
|
Article: Calling off deal may cost us dearly in the future.(News)
- Article from:
- The Sunday Independent (South Africa)
- Article date:
- November 8, 2009
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 Independent News & Media PLC. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
BYLINE: Helmoed R�mer Heitman
The decision to pull out of the Airbus A400M project has been widely welcomed, but what now? There seems to have been very little - if any - thought given to the impact of this decision on South Africa's capability to meet its regional responsibilities. Nor to the likely cost. We may yet find that "saving" R30 billion by cancelling the A400M contract is going to cost rather more than that when the dust has settled.
The implications and costs will be strategic, economic and political.
The key strategic issue is whether South Africa intends to accept the regional security responsibilities that come with having ...