Source: Newsweek | Original Published At: 2026-01-09 10:45:34 UTC
Key Points
- China led a BRICS naval exercise in South African waters focusing on maritime safety operations and interoperability drills
- Participating countries included original BRICS members plus recent additions like Iran and Saudi Arabia
- Exercise coincided with U.S. seizure of Venezuela-linked oil tankers, though organizers denied targeting third parties
- 11-ship fleet included Chinese destroyers, Russian corvettes, and Iranian expeditionary vessels
- Demonstrates BRICS expansion from 5 to 11 members between 2011-2025