CAPE TOWN: A Russian warship arrived off South Africa’s principal naval base on Friday to take part in a high‑profile multinational naval exercise alongside Chinese and Iranian vessels and other BRICS partners, in a development that could further strain Pretoria’s already delicate relations with the United States.
The drills, known as “Will for Peace 2026,” are scheduled to run for a week off the coast of Cape Town, bringing together warships from several members of the expanded BRICS+ grouping — a coalition of emerging economies including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, alongside newer additions such as Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates.
Journalists stationed near the Simon’s Town naval base observed the Russian‑flagged corvette pulling into False Bay, joining a Chinese guided‑missile destroyer and a replenishment ship, as well as an Iranian forward base vessel that had earlier entered South African waters in preparation for the exercises.
South Africa’s Deputy Defence Minister, Bantu Holomisa, confirmed that additional ships, including elements from the United Arab Emirates, were expected to participate, while navies from Indonesia, Ethiopia and Brazil will attend as observers.
According to statements from the South African National Defence Force, the aim of the joint drills is to enhance cooperation among participating navies, improve joint operational capabilities, and contribute to the safety of maritime trade routes and regional stability.
Officials emphasised that the exercise — originally scheduled for November 2025 but postponed due to a clash with the Group of 20 summit in Johannesburg — was planned well before recent geopolitical flashpoints emerged. “This exercise was planned long before these tensions we are witnessing today,” Holomisa said, underscoring Pretoria’s intent to frame the event as routine military cooperation rather than a political statement.
The timing and composition of the drills have drawn significant international attention. Relations between South Africa and the United States have been tense, with Washington previously boycotting the Johannesburg G20 summit, expelling the South African ambassador and imposing steep trade tariffs amid disputes over Pretoria’s foreign policy stances.
The participation of Russian and Iranian naval assets — both countries under Western sanctions and at odds with US policy — has raised eyebrows among critics who view the exercise as signaling a shift in multilateral military alignment. Domestic opposition figures, including South Africa’s Democratic Alliance party, have criticised the government’s decision to host what they argue is a politically charged military engagement rather than a strictly non‑aligned cooperation.
Despite such criticism, South African defence officials maintain that the focus of Will for Peace 2026 remains on enhancing maritime safety and collaboration across participating navies, reflecting broader efforts by BRICS+ nations to deepen strategic ties beyond economic cooperation.