China, Russia, and Iran have started a week of joint naval exercises in South Africa’s waters, referred to as a BRICS Plus operation aimed at ensuring maritime safety and economic activities.
BRICS Plus includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, along with six other countries as a counterbalance to U. S. influence. The exercises occur amid rising tensions between the U. S. and several BRICS Plus nations, including China and Iran.
The expanded group also features Egypt, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, and the UAE, with Brazil, Egypt, and Ethiopia participating as observers. The military described the event, named “Exercise WILL FOR PEACE 2026,” as a collaborative training for maritime safety and interoperability.
Critics, including South Africa’s Democratic Alliance party, argue that these exercises undermine the country’s neutrality and make it a pawn in geopolitical conflicts. However, officials emphasize that the exercises focus on improving capabilities and information sharing, not hostility toward the U. S.
With information from Reuters
