Newspectives: China and Russia lead BRICS joint naval exercises South Africa

Published: 13 Feb 2026 · Last updated: 14 Feb 2026 · Generated by AI (methodology)

In January 2026, the South African National Defence Force hosted the 'Will for Peace' naval exercises off the Cape coast, led by China and involving Russia and Iran. Postponed from 2025 to accommodate South Africa's G20 presidency, the drills focused on interoperability, anti-piracy, and safeguarding global shipping lanes, highlighting a growing emphasis on multilateral maritime security cooperation within the expanded BRICS+ framework.

Tags: Geopolitics, Military, Naval Exercises, BRICS+, International Relations, Maritime Security

Common Ground perspective

Sources: freightnews.co.za, azernews.az, brics-info.org, citizen.co.za

USA perspective

Mainstream U.S. media is sharply criticizing South Africa for hosting the 'Will for Peace 2026' naval exercises with adversaries China, Russia, and Iran. Reports highlight the Biden administration's outrage, describing the drills as a betrayal of democratic values and a 'middle finger' to Washington. Analysts warn this alignment with authoritarian regimes could jeopardize South Africa's preferential trade access under the AGOA agreement.

Sources: timesofisrael.com, chinacapital.com

United Kingdom perspective

British media, including The Independent and security analysts, are reporting with concern on South Africa's 'Will for Peace 2026' naval exercises. The coverage highlights the inclusion of Iran alongside Russia and China as a significant shift from mere economic cooperation to a security-focused 'anti-Western' bloc. Reports emphasize the diplomatic fallout, noting the drills coincide with heightened US-Venezuela tensions and further strain South Africa's relations with the UK and US.

Sources: dailymaverick.co.za, fpri.org, theafricareport.com, spacewar.com

Germany perspective

German media, including *Die Zeit* and *taz*, view the 'Will for Peace' naval exercises as a troubling departure from South Africa's non-alignment. Reports criticize Pretoria for hosting Russian and Iranian warships, warning that this 'anti-Western' posturing endangers vital trade ties with the EU and Germany while morally undermining global pacifist efforts against the war in Ukraine.

Sources: kaabtv.com, issafrica.org, youtube.com, dailymaverick.co.za

Russia perspective

Russian and Chinese naval forces, joined by BRICS+ partners including Iran and the UAE, successfully completed the 'Will for Peace 2026' exercises off South Africa's coast. Ignoring Washington's 'diktats' and threats of tariffs, the drills focused on securing vital maritime trade routes and anti-piracy operations. Moscow hailed the event as a milestone in multipolar defense cooperation, emphasizing South Africa's sovereign right to independent foreign policy.

Sources: spacewar.com, channelnewsasia.com, responsiblestatecraft.org, aljazeera.com

China perspective

Chinese state media reports that the 'Will for Peace 2026' joint maritime exercises with Russia and South Africa successfully enhanced capabilities to safeguard international shipping lanes and maritime economic activities. Officials highlighted the drills' focus on non-traditional security threats like piracy and terrorism, portraying the cooperation as a vital contribution to global peace rather than a geopolitical confrontation.

Sources: globaltimes.cn, globaltimes.cn, voanews.com, globaltimes.cn

Israel perspective

Israeli media report with concern on the 'Will for Peace 2026' naval exercises hosted by South Africa, featuring China, Russia, and notably Iran. Commentators view this as further evidence of Pretoria's drift into an anti-Western 'rogue' alliance, exacerbating tensions already high due to South Africa's ICJ genocide case against Israel. The drills are seen as a defiant signal to the US and its allies.

Sources: nationalsecuritynews.com, substack.com, timesofisrael.com, hurriyetdailynews.com

Arab World perspective

South Africa hosts the 'Will for Peace' naval exercises with China, Russia, and Iran, asserting its sovereign right to non-alignment despite US pressure. Pan-Arab commentators view this as a bold rejection of unipolar American dominance, linking Pretoria's defiance to its principled stance against Israel at the ICJ. The drills symbolize a shifting global order favoring the Global South.

Sources: arabnews.com, tvpworld.com, theowp.org, ecfr.eu

South Africa perspective

South African media reports on the successful conclusion of 'Exercise Will for Peace 2026,' led by China and involving Russia and Iran. Coverage emphasizes Pretoria's refusal to bow to Western pressure, framing the drills as a sovereign right rooted in historical anti-apartheid solidarity. The exercises are hailed as a milestone for BRICS security cooperation and a demonstration of African leadership in fostering a multipolar world order.

Sources: arabnews.com, atlanticcouncil.org, brics-info.org, cnbcafrica.com

The Jester perspective (satire — not factual reporting)

In a stunning display of irony-proof diplomacy, the BRICS alliance gathered in South Africa for the 'Will for Peace 2026' exercises, a heartwarming event where nations currently invading neighbors practiced 'defensive' maneuvers. South Africa, desperate to keep its US trade deals, awkwardly demoted Iran from 'active shooter' to 'enthusiastic spectator' mid-drill, proving that non-alignment is best achieved by confusing everyone equally.

Sources: jpost.com, bostonbrandmedia.com, southernafricantimes.com, atalayar.com

HUNGARY perspective

Hungarian media extensively covered the January 2026 BRICS naval exercises hosted by South Africa. Government-aligned outlets like Origo used sensationalist framing, questioning if this marks "the beginning of the end" for Western dominance, while economic and independent portals (Portfolio, VG) focused on the expanded BRICS+ participation and the strategic message sent to the US administration.

Sources: portfolio.hu, telex.hu, vg.hu, privatbankar.hu

JAPAN perspective

Japanese media, including NHK and Yomiuri, report with concern on the "Will for Peace 2026" naval exercises in South Africa. The participation of Russia and Iran alongside China is viewed as a transformation of BRICS into a security bloc challenging the "Free and Open Indo-Pacific," prompting Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae's administration to reinforce alliances.

Sources: storm.mg, zona-militar.com, dailymaverick.co.za, ecfr.eu

NETHERLANDS perspective

Dutch media report with concern on the 'Will for Peace 2026' naval exercises led by China in South African waters. The drills, involving Russia and Iran, are viewed as a geopolitical challenge to Western hegemony. Reports highlight the tension between South Africa's claimed neutrality and its deepening military ties with anti-Western 'BRICS Plus' nations.

Sources: youtube.com, businessam.be, themoscowtimes.com, businessam.be

NORTH_KOREA perspective

North Korean state media (KCNA) hails the 'Will for Peace' joint naval exercises by China, Russia, and South Africa as a righteous demonstration of military power by independent sovereign states. The reports contrast these 'peace-guarding' maneuvers with the 'reckless war drills' of the U.S. and its 'puppets,' portraying the BRICS cooperation as a powerful deterrent against 'imperialist tyranny' and a signal of the 'irresistible trend' towards a multipolar world.

Sources: China leads naval exercises in South Africa with the involvement of Iran and Russia, China, Russia, Iran start 'BRICS Plus' naval exercises in South African waters, North Korea Vows Offensive Response to South Korea-U.S. Military Exercises (Contextual Tone)

SOUTH_KOREA perspective

South Korean media views the recent China-led 'Will for Peace 2026' naval exercises in South Africa not merely as distant maneuvers, but as a worrying sign of a calcifying 'anti-Western' military bloc involving Russia and Iran. Analysts fear this emboldens North Korea and complicates Seoul's 'Global Pivotal State' diplomacy, forcing a tighter security alignment with Washington despite economic risks.

Sources: nih.gov, cepa.org, wuab.org, farroandco.com

Sources

All primary sources cited across the perspectives on this page: