South Africa to host first China-led BRICS joint navy exercises

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Source: Africanews | Original Published At: 2026-01-07 10:23:20 UTC

South Africa will host the inaugural China-led BRICS joint naval exercise with a focus on maritime safety and economic activities.
The exercise marks BRICS' first formal defense cooperation initiative following its expansion to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and UAE.
Russia and Iran are confirmed participants, though South Africa has not officially disclosed the full list of attending nations.
The drills represent a shift from previous unnamed exercises to formal BRICS-branded military cooperation.