South Africa defends BRICS naval drills as ‘essential’ amid tensions

South Africa defends BRICS naval drills as ‘essential’ amid tensions
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ChinaIranRussiaSouth Africa

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
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