China, Russia and Iran have started week-long “BRICS Plus” naval exercises in South African waters, with South Africa describing the drills as focused on maritime safety and the protection of shipping and economic activity at sea.
The exercise, titled “Will for Peace 2026,” is being hosted by South Africa and led by China, and it is drawing attention because it comes during heightened tensions between the US administration and several BRICS Plus countries.
Drills begin as “Will for Peace 2026” opens
South Africa’s military has described “Exercise WILL FOR PEACE 2026” as bringing together navies from BRICS Plus nations for joint maritime safety operations and interoperability drills.
The South African National Defence Force has also said the exercise will include maritime protection activities alongside interoperability training.
An official opening parade for “Will for Peace 2026” was held in Simon’s Town, and a South African military social media post said the parade brought together naval contingents from China, Russia, Iran and South Africa, with China as the lead nation.
Who is involved, and who is observing
Chinese military officials overseeing the opening ceremony said Brazil, Egypt and Ethiopia were taking part as observers.
A South African military spokesperson said that all BRICS Plus members had been invited to participate in the naval exercises.
The BBC reported that South Africa’s defence department did not publicly name the countries involved, while describing the training program’s focus on maritime safety operations and maritime protection activities.
Where the exercise is taking place
The drills are being held off South Africa’s coast, including in waters linked to Cape Town and the Simon’s Town naval area.
A report said that a Russian warship arrived at a naval base off the South African coast to join Chinese and Iranian vessels ahead of the exercises.
A report published by DFA said foreign warships were operating off South Africa’s coastline, and it included a general view of vessels in Simon’s Town harbour identified as China’s guided-missile destroyer Tangshan (Hull 122), Iran’s navy ship IRIS Makran 441, and China’s supply ship Taihu (Hull 889).
Timing differs across reports
Several sources describe the exercise as running from 9 to 16 January, including a South African military Facebook post and a report published by DFA.
Newsday also reported that the South African-hosted naval exercise would conclude on January 16 and described the training as being conducted off South Africa’s coast with BRICS partners including Russia, China and Iran.
Other accounts describe different start points: one report said China, Russia and Iran commenced a week of collaborative naval drills on Saturday, another said the week-long manoeuvres were due to start on Saturday, and a South African military post said the exercise officially commenced on 10 January with an opening parade.
Why South Africa says it matters
South Africa has framed the drills as a response to a more complex maritime environment and has said the exercises are intended to ensure the security of maritime transport and maritime economic activities.
Al Jazeera quoted Captain Nndwakhulu Thomas Thamaha, described as the commander of South Africa’s joint task force, saying the drills signal a commitment among BRICS countries to collaborate and are aimed at safeguarding shipping routes and maritime economic endeavors.
South Africa’s deputy defence minister Bantu Holomisa said the activities were scheduled well in advance and argued South Africa should focus on cooperation with BRICS countries to keep its waters safe, specifically referencing the Indian Ocean and Atlantic.
Tensions and scrutiny around the drills
The BBC said the exercises could inflame South Africa’s already strained relations with US President Donald Trump, and it noted that some experts question why BRICS Plus members are holding military exercises when the bloc is primarily an economic coalition.
A defence analyst, Dean Wingrin, told the BBC that some BRICS Plus members are politically opposed to each other, and he pointed to the existence of border skirmishes between some members.
Another report said the drills risk further damaging Pretoria’s relations with Washington and said the joint drills were originally scheduled for November 2025 but postponed because of a clash with the G20 summit in Johannesburg.
