South Africa Faces Backlash Over Iran’s Participation in BRICS Naval Drills

Source: Al Jazeera | Original Published At: 2026-01-23 05:49:21 UTC

Key Points

• South Africa conducted BRICS naval drills (Will for Peace 2026) with participation from China, Russia, Iran, UAE, and others, despite President Ramaphosa's reported order to exclude Iran.
• The exercises aimed to enhance maritime safety cooperation but drew US condemnation over Iran's human rights record and regional tensions.
• India declined participation, clarifying the drills were not an official BRICS activity, while Indonesia, Ethiopia, and Brazil observed.
• South Africa's military faces an internal inquiry after allegedly defying presidential orders to exclude Iran from the exercises.
• The drills highlight BRICS' expanded security role beyond its original economic focus, straining relations with the US and within South Africa's coalition government.