Chinese and Iranian warships have arrived in Cape Town ahead of a major BRICS naval exercise hosted by South Africa. The joint military drill, titled Will for Peace 2026, begins Friday and will run in South African waters for one week. The arrival underscores growing military cooperation among expanded BRICS nations.
The exercise will take place from January 9 to January 16, with China leading operations at sea. Iran is participating alongside South Africa, while Russian naval vessels are also expected to dock in Cape Town ahead of the drills. The presence of Chinese and Iranian warships marks another visible expansion of BRICS military coordination.
According to South Africa’s Department of Defence, the exercise is themed “Joint Actions to Ensure the Safety of Shipping and Maritime Economic Activities.” Officials said the drills aim to enhance cooperation in protecting key maritime trade routes and promoting peaceful maritime security.
Chinese and Iranian warships will take part in coordinated maneuvers, communication drills, and joint operational exercises designed to improve interoperability among participating navies. While exact details of participating nations have not been fully disclosed, the drill is expected to feature multiple BRICS+ members.
BRICS originally included Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The bloc has since expanded to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates. The naval exercise reflects the group’s growing ambition to project collective security cooperation beyond economic coordination.
South African defence officials said the exercise demonstrates a shared commitment among participating nations to safeguard maritime commerce and strengthen partnerships in international waters. They emphasized that the drills are defensive in nature and focused on maritime safety rather than confrontation.
However, the arrival of Chinese and Iranian warships in South Africa is likely to deepen diplomatic tensions with the United States. Relations between Washington and Pretoria have been strained in recent months over South Africa’s foreign policy alignment and military engagements with US rivals.
Analysts say the naval drills could further complicate South Africa’s balancing act between maintaining Western ties and strengthening relationships within BRICS. With global attention on shifting alliances, the exercise is expected to draw close scrutiny from international observers.
