Blinken says India, South Africa are on slow trajectory away from alignment with Russia

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary Antony Blinken participates in a signing ceremony in Washington, U.S., December 13, 2022. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/Pool

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday countries like India and South Africa, which have not joined the West in denouncing Russia's invasion of Ukraine, were likely on a trajectory away from alignment with Moscow but that process would not happen "in one fell swoop."

"There are countries that have long-standing, decades-long relationships with Russia, with the Soviet Union before, that are challenging to break off in one fell swoop. It's not flipping a light switch, it’s moving an aircraft carrier," Blinken said in an interview with The Atlantic, marking the one year anniversary of the war.