South Africa has defended weeklong naval drills with Russia, Iran, China and other partners as “essential”, describing the manoeuvres off its coast as a vital response to rising maritime tensions globally.
The “Will for Peace 2026” exercises, which began on Saturday off the coast of Cape Town, bring together warships from the expanded BRICS Plus bloc in a display of cooperation that Pretoria insists is defensive and long-planned. The drills run from 9 to 16 January 2026.
Captain Nndwakhulu Thomas Thamaha, South Africa’s joint task force commander, struck a resolute tone at the opening ceremony. “It is a demonstration of our collective resolve to work together,” he declared. “In an increasingly complex maritime environment, cooperation such as this is not an option, it is essential.”
The exercises focus on joint maritime safety operations, interoperability drills and the protection of shipping lanes, according to the South African National Defence Force. They aim to ensure the safety of shipping lanes and maritime economic activities, Thamaha added.
Participating forces
China leads the operation, with its guided-missile destroyer Tangshan and comprehensive supply ship Taihu prominently involved. Iran deployed a destroyer and forward base vessel from its 103rd Flotilla, while Russia sent the corvette Stoikiy. The United Arab Emirates contributed corvettes, and host South Africa dispatched the frigate SAS Amatola. Observers include Indonesia, Ethiopia and Brazil, with all BRICS Plus members invited, though not all sent active vessels.
The timing has raised eyebrows. The drills follow closely on the heels of US actions in the North Atlantic, where American forces seized the Russian-flagged tanker linked to Venezuelan oil exports for allegedly violating Western sanctions. This came amid Washington’s intensified pressure on Caracas, including the recent abduction of President Nicolas Maduro by US special forces.
These developments unfold against heightened friction between US President Donald Trump’s administration and several BRICS Plus nations, including China, Iran, South Africa and Brazil. Trump has branded the bloc “anti-American” and threatened additional 10-percent tariffs on members.
Officials push back
South African officials firmly rejected suggestions of provocation. Deputy Defence Minister Bantu Holomisa, speaking on Friday, insisted the exercises were scheduled well before recent escalations. “Let us not press panic buttons because the USA has got a problem with countries. Those are not our enemies,” he said. “Let’s focus on cooperating with the BRICS countries and make sure that our seas, especially the Indian Ocean and Atlantic, are safe.”
The drills, originally known as Exercise Mosi and involving South Africa, Russia and China since 2019, were postponed from November due to a clash with the G20 summit in Johannesburg – an event boycotted by the Trump administration. The addition of Iran and the renaming to “Will for Peace 2026” reflect the bloc’s growth, now encompassing 11 nations: original members Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, plus Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.
Domestic criticism
Critics remain unconvinced. The Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s second-largest party and part of the governing coalition, condemned the participation of “heavily sanctioned” Russia and Iran as undermining Pretoria’s claimed non-alignment. “Calling these drills ‘BRICS cooperation’ is a political trick,” the DA stated, warning that the exercises deepen diplomatic challenges.
Lieutenant Colonel Mpho Mathebula, acting spokesperson for joint operations, told Reuters that the event is non-political. “This is not a political arrangement… there is no hostility (towards the U.S.),” she said, noting South Africa’s periodic exercises with the US Navy.
As warships manoeuvre in the waters where the Atlantic meets the Indian Ocean, the “Will for Peace 2026” underscores a clear message: emerging powers are forging their own paths to maritime stability amid shifting global dynamics.
