South Africa will host a major BRICS Plus naval exercise in its waters from 9-16 January 2026, with Iran set to participate for the first time alongside Russia and China.
The Exercise Mosi III drills, dubbed Exercise Will for Peace 2026, have already sparked controversy, with opposition parties warning that Pretoria’s decision to host sanctioned states undermines its claims of non‑alignment and risks further straining relations with the United States.
The Department of Defence confirmed the exercise will take place off Cape Town, led by China and involving navies from Brazil, Russia, India, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.
Officials say the programme will focus on maritime safety, interoperability training and protection of key trade routes, reflecting BRICS Plus’ growing role in global security cooperation.
But Iran’s inclusion has drawn sharp criticism from the Democratic Alliance (DA), which argues that BRICS was intended as an economic partnership, not a military alliance.
DA defence spokesperson Chris Hattingh said hosting Iranian and Russian forces “sends a clear political signal” and erodes South Africa’s non‑alignment stance.
“Hosting the military forces of Iran and Russia is not neutral. These are sanctioned states involved in active conflicts and serious human rights abuses,” Hattingh said.
“Allowing them to conduct military exercises in South African waters sends a clear political signal, whether government admits it or not. South Africa’s policy of non-alignment is being hollowed out.”
He warned that the move will deepen tensions with Washington, noting Iran’s president has publicly described his country as being in a state of war with the US and Western powers.
Relations between South Africa and the US have soured since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.
Joint military exercises with the US have been cancelled, American participation in the Africa Aerospace and Defence exhibition collapsed, and diplomatic exchanges have grown increasingly strained.
Analysts say Pretoria’s embrace of sanctioned states like Russia and Iran has accelerated the rift, with Washington viewing such ties as incompatible with democratic values and human rights commitments.
South African defence officials, however, insist the exercise is about strengthening maritime safety and multilateral cooperation, not political alignment.
Acting Department of Defence Senior Staff Officer, Mpho Mathebula said the theme reflects a collective commitment to safeguarding trade routes and enhancing shared operational procedures.
JN/APA