Warships from Russia, China, and Iran Conduct Joint Exercises Off South Africa Amid Rising Tensions with the U.S.

A Russian warship docked near South Africa’s primary naval facility on Friday to participate in military drills alongside Chinese and Iranian vessels, an event that could further strain Pretoria’s ties with Washington.

These exercises include several countries at odds with the U.S. government and come amid escalating tensions following a U.S. operation in Venezuela.

Earlier this week, a Chinese destroyer and a replenishment ship, along with an Iranian forward base vessel, entered South African waters in preparation for weeklong maneuvers, which are set to begin with an opening ceremony on Saturday.

Journalists from AFP observed the Russian corvette arriving in False Bay, close to the Simon’s Town naval base.

China is the leading nation in the «Will for Peace 2026» drill, which involves the navies of the BRICS alliance comprised of 11 emerging economies that former U.S. President Donald Trump has described as «anti-American.»

The South African navy announced that it will provide details about the participating vessels later on Friday.

Additionally, the United Arab Emirates is anticipated to send naval assets, as stated by Deputy Defense Minister Bantu Holomisa during an interview with Newzroom Afrika television late Thursday.

Observers from other BRICS nations, including Indonesia, Ethiopia, and Brazil, will also be present, Holomisa mentioned. The remaining BRICS members include India, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.

According to South Africa’s defense force, the drills aim to facilitate «the exchange of best practices and enhancement of joint operational capabilities, which contributes to safe shipping routes and overall maritime stability in the region.»

Earlier this week, Washington seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker, asserting it was part of a clandestine fleet supplying oil to countries like Venezuela, Russia, and Iran.

The U.S. has also warned of potential repercussions for Iran if demonstrators are harmed during escalating protests due to surging living costs.

When asked about the timing of the naval exercises, Holomisa remarked: «This exercise was scheduled well in advance of the tensions we are currently witnessing.»

«We shouldn’t overreact just because the USA has issues with certain countries,» he emphasized. «Those are not our enemies.»

These joint exercises were originally planned for November 2025 but were postponed due to a conflict with the G20 summit in Johannesburg.

Washington chose to boycott the summit amid disputes with Pretoria regarding its relationships with Russia and Iran.

«Clearly, Washington has been trying to put Pretoria in a negative light since the start of the current Trump administration,» commented Priyal Singh, a senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies, in an interview with AFP.

«The narrative surrounding the upcoming naval exercises will likely serve as a key example for U.S. policymakers to reconsider their bilateral relations with South Africa,» he concluded.