Warships from China and Iran have arrived in Cape Town for a joint naval exercise hosted by South Africa. The drills, named “Will for Peace 2026,” are scheduled to begin Friday and will last one week.
The exercise involves key nations from the BRICS Plus group. According to South Africa’s Department of Defense, China will lead the week-long naval operations. Russian ships are also expected to arrive in Cape Town to participate.
In a statement, South Africa’s Department of Defense said the drill “will showcase the participants’ commitment to safeguard maritime trade routes and deepen cooperation in support of peaceful maritime security.”
The initiative comes after months of growing tensions between South Africa and the United States, and analysts state the exercises risk further straining relations between the two countries.