BRICS Rift Over Naval Exercise: South Africa Yields to Trump Pressure on Iran Participation

Source: Navabharat | Original Published At: 2026-01-14 10:15:36 UTC

Key Points

• BRICS' first naval exercise 'Will for Peace' in Cape Town sparked tensions as South Africa urged Iran to withdraw under US pressure.
• Iran initially agreed to observer status but later deployed warships, defying Western pressure and joining China, Russia, and UAE in drills.
• South Africa faces conflicting priorities between BRICS commitments and US threats of tariffs over its alignment with non-Western powers.
• Trump administration warned of 100% tariffs if BRICS promotes alternatives to the US dollar, escalating economic and diplomatic tensions.
• The incident highlights fractures in BRICS unity and the influence of external geopolitical pressures on the bloc's institutional cohesion.