CAPE TOWN: A Russian warship arrived off South Africa’s main naval base on Friday to join Chinese and Iranian vessels for military exercises that risk further damaging Pretoria’s relations with Washington.
The exercises draw together several nations feuding with the US administration and come at a time of heightened tensions following Washington’s raid on Venezuela.
A Chinese destroyer and replenishment ship, as well as an Iranian forward base vessel, sailed into South African waters earlier this week ahead of the week-long manoeuvres due to kick off at the weekend.
Journalists near the Simon’s Town base saw the Russian-flagged corvette vessel pull into a bay.
The China-led “Will for Peace” drill involves navies from the 11-nation BRICS group of emerging nations, which President Donald Trump has labelled “anti-American”.
The United Arab Emirates was also expected to send ships, South Africa’s Deputy Defence Minister Bantu Holomisa told a television channel.
Fellow BRICS nations Indonesia, Ethiopia and Brazil will send observers, he added. The remaining members of the grouping are India, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
The exercise will allow the navies “to exchange best practices and improve joint operational capabilities, which contributes to the safety of shipping routes and overall regional maritime stability”, South Africa’s defence force said.
Global tensions
Asked about the timing of the drill, Holomisa said: “This exercise was planned long before these tensions we are witnessing today.”
They were initially scheduled for November, but postponed because they clashed with the G20 summit in Johannesburg.
At odds with South Africa over a range of international issues, the United States boycotted the summit.
It also expelled the South African ambassador last year and imposed 30 per cent trade tariffs.
Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2026
