Chinese, Iranian Warships Arrive in South Africa Exercises
South Africa hosts BRICS naval drills as Chinese and Iranian warships arrive, drawing political scrutiny and renewed concerns over foreign policy neutrality.
China & Iran – (Special Correspondent / Web Desk) – Chinese and Iranian naval vessels docked near South Africa’s main naval base on Thursday ahead of joint military exercises that are also expected to include Russia. The drills, scheduled from January 9 to 16 and titled “Will for Peace,” are being hosted by South Africa and could further complicate its already strained relations with the United States, which has ongoing disputes with several participating countries.
Chinese, Iranian warships in South Africa for exerciseshttps://t.co/LwlyKNnIs7
— Eyewitness News (@ewnupdates) January 8, 2026
AFP reporters observed two Chinese warships anchored in Cape Town’s False Bay on Wednesday, while an Iranian vessel arrived the following day. South African navy officials confirmed that Russian ships are also anticipated to join the China-led exercises.
According to the South African National Defence Force, the drills will focus on maritime security, particularly the protection of shipping routes and economic activities at sea. Officials said the exercises aim to strengthen cooperation and promote peaceful approaches to maritime safety.
The manoeuvres will involve naval forces from BRICS member states. The bloc, originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has since expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and most recently, Indonesia.
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The joint drills — previously known as Exercise Mosi — were initially scheduled for November 2025 but were postponed due to a clash with the G20 summit in Johannesburg.
South Africa’s Democratic Alliance (DA), a member of the ruling unity government, said parliament had not been “properly briefed” on the drills, including cost, command structure and diplomatic consequences.
“South Africa’s defence and foreign policy must be transparent, constitutional, and principled and certainly not being quietly reshaped through military exercises that contradict our stated neutrality and damage our standing in the world,” DA spokesperson on defence, Chris Hattingh, said in a statement.
The centre-right party — which joined government after the African National Congress lost its majority in 2024 due to voter disillusionment with corruption and mismanagement — vowed to demand full transparency in parliament.
President Donald Trump has accused countries in the BRICS group of emerging nations of “anti-American” policies.
South Africa has drawn US criticism for its close ties with Russia and a range of other policies, including its decision to bring a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice over the Gaza war.
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South Africa’s military was criticised for hosting naval exercises with Russia and China in 2023 that coincided with the one-year anniversary of the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine.
The three countries first conducted joint naval drills in 2019.
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