A coalition of “BRICS Plus” warships officially commenced the “Will for Peace 2026” naval exercises in South African waters today, Saturday, 10 January 2026. Led by China, the week-long manoeuvres bring together some of the United States’ most vocal global rivals at a time of peak geopolitical friction.
The drills, which take place where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet, are seen by analysts as a “muscular” response to the U.S. recent interventions in Venezuela and its aggressive trade policies toward the Global South.
The exercise features a diverse array of advanced naval hardware, centered at the Simon’s Town Naval Base.
China, in the lead, spearheaded the drills with the CNS Tangshan (a 161-meter destroyer) and the replenishment ship CNS Taihu. While Russia, was represented by the corvette Stoykiy and the fleet oiler Yelnya, which travelLed from the Baltic Fleet despite being shadowed by NATO during their transit.
Iran on the other hand, deployed the IRIS Makran, a massive expeditionary sea base, marking its continued push to project naval power far beyond the Persian Gulf, and the United Arab Emirates reportedly participated also with the corvette Bani Yas.
South Africa, the host, deployed the frigate SAS Amatola to represent its nation, as Brazil, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Indonesia sent military observers.
While the official theme is “Joint Actions to Ensure the Safety of Shipping and Maritime Economic Activities,” the political subtext is unavoidable.
Drills included anti-piracy operations, counter-terrorism rescues, and maritime strike simulations aimed at protecting vital trade routes.
The timing of this exercise is critical. It follows U.S. President Trump’s recent “many-time strike” warnings to Nigeria and the abduction of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela.
This is the first large-scale joint military event of the expanded BRICS Plus format, signaling the bloc’s transition from an economic club to a nascent security community.
The drills have ignited a firestorm of criticism both within South Africa and from Washington.
President Trump, who previously labeled BRICS as “anti-American,” has already threatened members with a 10% trade tariff. U.S. officials are reportedly reviewing bilateral relations with Pretoria, citing its cooperation with “bad actors.”
The Democratic Alliance (DA), part of South Africa’s coalition government, slammed the drills, claiming they render the country a “pawn in rogue state power games” and contradict its stated policy of neutrality.
Deputy Defence Minister Bantu Holomisa dismissed the outcry, stating: “Those [China, Russia, Iran] are not our enemies. This exercise was planned long before the current tensions.”
“What the exercise provides is a public good in security… it transcends the confrontational thinking inherent in traditional Western military exercises.” – China Military Official.
