BRICS Plus navies begin joint exercises off South Africa

China, Russia and Iran have started a week-long joint naval exercise in South African waters as part of a broader BRICS Plus initiative aimed at enhancing maritime security and protecting shipping routes. 

South Africa described the operation, known as Exercise WILL FOR PEACE 2026, as a collaborative effort to improve interoperability and ensure the safety of maritime economic activities.

BRICS Plus expands the original bloc — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — to include six additional countries: Egypt, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates. 

Officials said Brazil, Egypt and Ethiopia participated as observers at the opening ceremony.

The exercises come amid heightened tensions between the United States and several BRICS Plus members, including China, Iran, South Africa and Brazil. 

U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised the bloc and previously threatened additional tariffs on member states.

Within South Africa, the naval drills have drawn political debate, with the pro-Western Democratic Alliance arguing they conflict with the country’s neutrality. 

South African military representatives, however, stressed the exercises are non-political and focus on improving capabilities and information sharing, noting that the nation also conducts drills with the U.S. Navy.