By: Chidozie Nwali
BRICS Plus bloc has converged in the waters off South Africa’s Cape Peninsula, on Saturday, launching a week of high-stakes naval exercises to ensure the safety of shipping and maritime economic activities.
Codenamed “Exercise WILL FOR PEACE 2026,” the drills are scheduled to run through January 16. While South African officials describe the exercises as a routine effort to safeguard global shipping lanes, the timing and participation of China, Russia, and Iran have turned the event into a major geopolitical flashpoint.
Led by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy, the exercise marks the first major military movement of the newly expanded BRICS Plus framework.
” Exercise WILL FOR PEACE 2026 brings together navies from BRICS Plus countries for …. joint maritime safety operations (and) interoperability drills,” South Africa’s military said in a statement.
Brazil, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Indonesia have sent military observers to monitor the proceedings.
The drills are taking place against a backdrop of severe friction with the Trump administration. Just days before the exercises began, U.S. forces seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic, alleging it was part of a “shadow fleet” violating sanctions.
In Washington, President Trump has repeatedly labeled the BRICS bloc as an “anti-American” entity and has threatened member states with trade tariffs ranging from 10% to 30%.
U.S. officials have also expressed concern over South Africa’s deepening ties with sanctioned states, particularly Iran and Russia.
