Saturday 10/January/2026 – 11:12 AM
China and Russia beganIran Joint naval exercises in South African waters today, Saturday, in what the host country described as a BRICS Plus operation aimed at ensuring the safety of shipping and maritime economic activities, according to Reuters.
Joint naval exercises between Russia, China and Iran in South Africa
The BRICS Plus group is an expansion of the geopolitical bloc that originally included Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, and the members of the group believe that it constitutes a deterrent to the economic hegemony of the United States and Western countries, to now include 6 other countries.
Although South Africa regularly holds naval exercises with China and Russia, this comes at a time of tense relations between the administration of US President Donald Trump and a number of BRICS Plus countries, including China, Iran, South Africa and Brazil.
The South African Armed Forces said in a statement that Exercise WILL FOR PEACE 2026 brings together the navies of the BRICS Plus countries for joint operations to ensure maritime safety and interoperability exercises between forces.
Lieutenant Colonel Mpho Mathebula, acting spokesman for joint operations, explained that all members were invited to participate, stressing that these exercises are not a political arrangement and do not include any hostility towards the United States, noting that South Africa also conducts periodic exercises with the US Navy.
He added that the aim of the naval exercises is to improve capabilities and exchange information between the participating forces.
