Overview
- The weeklong Will for Peace 2026 exercise began on January 10 near Simon’s Town with China, Russia, Iran and South Africa participating.
- India stayed away while Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia and Ethiopia joined as observers under the expanded BRICS+ framework.
- China is leading the drills and deployed the destroyer Tangshan, the supply ship Taihu, a ship‑borne helicopter and special operations personnel.
- South Africa’s defence ministry says the training focuses on safeguarding key shipping lanes through counterterrorism, rescue and anti‑sea‑strike operations.
- The maneuvers proceed during strained U.S.–South Africa relations, marked by new U.S. tariffs and a recent seizure of a Venezuela‑linked Russian tanker.