China, Russia, Iran send warships to South Africa for BRICS ‘Will for Peace’ 2026 drills

Source: Firstpost | Original Published At: 2026-01-09 14:55:12 UTC

Key Points

• China leads BRICS 'Will for Peace 2026' naval drills in South African waters with participation from Russia, Iran, and South Africa.
• Exercises focus on maritime safety, anti-piracy operations, and strengthening BRICS military cooperation.
• UAE expected to participate; Brazil, India, and Indonesia may join as observers, while Egypt and Saudi Arabia are mentioned as BRICS members.
• Drills were postponed from late November due to overlap with South Africa's G20 summit hosting.
• US criticizes South Africa's BRICS alignment, citing ties with 'sanctioned' states like Russia and Iran.