China, Russia and Iran began a week of joint naval exercises in South Africa’s waters on Saturday in what the host country described as a BRICS Plus operation to “ensure the safety of shipping and maritime economic activities”.
According to South Africa’s military, the exercises consist of coordinated maritime operations and interoperability among navies that are participating. The exercises are referred to as “Will for Peace 2026” and are being conducted off the coast of South Africa. BRICS Plus, since the first BRICS summit held in 2009, has expanded to include the members of Egypt, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates to be used as a counterbalance to US and Western influence on the global economy. Officials in South Africa have stated that “All BRICS Plus” states were invited to participate in the exercises and that Brazil, Egypt and Ethiopia were present as observers during the opening ceremony.
“Exercise WILL FOR PEACE 2026 brings together navies from BRICS Plus countries for … joint maritime safety operations (and) interoperability drills,” South Africa’s military said in a statement.
Naval exercises between South Africa, China and Russia are a regular occurrence; however, in light of the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration in the US and several other BRICS Plus nations, including South Africa, Brazil, China and Iran, these exercises have taken on added significance.
The US President, Donald Trump, has stated that the “actions of BRICS Nations are against the United States and also threatened to add a further 10% Tariff on top of the existing duties placed on several other countries as well as BRICS Nations”.
Domestically there has been opposition to these exercises. The Democratic Alliance is the second largest party in the South African Government’s Coalition and they say that these exercises undermine South Africa’s position of Neutrality and also risk positioning South Africa into Global Power struggles.
The South African Military has rejected these statements by the Democratic Alliance. He also pointed out that South Africa conducts Joint Naval Exercises with the United States Navy from time to time.
Mathebula rejected that criticism.
“This is not a political arrangement … there is no hostility (towards the U.S.),” Mathebula told Reuters, pointing out that South Africa has also periodically carried out exercises with the U.S. Navy
“It’s a naval exercise. The intention is for us to improve our capabilities and share information,” she said.