Overview
- The week-long exercise, running January 9–16, is underway off Cape Town with Chinese, Russian and Iranian warships observed at Simon’s Town while South Africa has not disclosed its own force details.
- South African military officials say the focus is safeguarding trade routes, anti-piracy operations and improving search-and-rescue coordination.
- China is reported to have deployed the destroyer Tangshan and supply ship Taihu, Russia the corvette Stoykji with a fleet tanker, and Iran units from its 103rd Flotilla.
- Participation from other BRICS-Plus nations remains uncertain, with reporting indicating key members such as India and Brazil may not be taking part.
- Opposition figures and analysts in South Africa warn the drills could strain ties with the United States and other Western partners, a debate sharpened by the timing following recent U.S. seizures of Venezuelan oil tankers.