Warships from China and Iran have arrived in Cape Town’s False Bay as South Africa prepares to host a major BRICS+ naval exercise called “Will for Peace 2026.” The week‑long drills, scheduled from January 9 to 16 in South African waters, are led by China and expected to include vessels from Russia as well. The exercise aims to strengthen cooperation on maritime security, joint operations and the protection of shipping routes and maritime economic activity, according to the South African National Defence Force.
Originally formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, the BRICS bloc has expanded to include countries such as Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates, and the drills reflect growing defense ties under this broader grouping. The presence of warships from sanctioned states, including Iran and Russia, and the China‑led nature of the exercise have drawn diplomatic attention, with analysts saying it could strain relations between South Africa and the United States, which has expressed concern over Pretoria’s partnerships with Beijing and Moscow.
The drills bring rare military cooperation to South African waters and underscore shifting global defence alignments as emerging economies deepen strategic ties through BRICS+ initiatives.
