Iran, Russia, and China Join Naval Drills with South Africa Under BRICS Framework Amid Geopolitical Tensions

Source: The Independent | Original Published At: 2026-01-10 08:12:52 UTC

Key Points

• Naval drills organized under BRICS involve China, Russia, Iran (new member), and South Africa, focusing on maritime safety and anti-piracy operations.
• Exercises delayed from late 2025 due to scheduling conflicts with the G20 summit in South Africa.
• U.S. tensions with South Africa escalate over its military ties with sanctioned states, with Trump administration accusing South Africa of supporting 'bad actors.'
• South Africa denies allegations of supplying weapons to Russia via Russian naval visits, as reported in 2023.
• Domestic criticism in South Africa from the Democratic Alliance, which calls the drills a 'political trick' to mask military alignment with 'rogue states.'