Chicago – Janaury 10, 2026
China, Russia, and Iran kicked off a week-long joint naval exercise named “Will for Peace 2026” in South Africa’s waters on Saturday. Hosted by South Africa, the drills aim to bolster maritime security, enhance interoperability, and safeguard vital shipping lanes amid rising global tensions.
South Africa’s military described the operation as a BRICS Plus initiative, expanding the original BRICS bloc—Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa—to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Brazil, Egypt, and Ethiopia joined as observers, while activities focus on rescue operations, communication drills, and coordinated maneuvers.
The exercises occur against strained U.S.-BRICS relations, with President Donald Trump threatening 10% tariffs on bloc members for “anti-American” policies. South African officials, including Lt. Col. Mpho Mathebula, insist the event is apolitical, emphasizing routine cooperation—including past U.S. drills—and professional capacity-building.
