South Africa defends BRICS naval drills as ‘essential’ amid tensions
Countries
Source: Al Jazeera | Original Published At: 2026-01-10 15:21:18 UTC
Key Points
- South Africa leads BRICS naval exercises with Russia, China, Iran, and UAE off Cape Town coast
- Drills aim to protect maritime economic activities and shipping lanes amid rising global tensions
- BRICS expansion now includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Indonesia
- US criticizes BRICS as 'anti-American' and threatens additional tariffs on member states
- Exercises postponed from November 2025 due to G20 summit scheduling conflict