South Africa has begun a joint naval exercise with Russia, China and Iran off its coast near Cape Town, a move that has sparked political debate at home and renewed scrutiny from Western partners amid rising global geopolitical tensions.

Drill Aimed at Maritime Security

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) said the naval exercise, dubbed WILL FOR PEACE 2026, officially commenced on Jan. 9 and will conclude on Jan. 16. According to the SANDF, the drills are being conducted within South Africa’s territorial waters and are intended to enhance maritime security, protect shipping routes and strengthen regional naval cooperation.

China is serving as the lead nation for the weeklong exercise. Military vessels from South Africa, China, Russia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates are participating directly, while Indonesia, Ethiopia and Brazil are attending as observers.

Political Backlash at Home

The exercise has drawn sharp criticism from the Democratic Alliance (DA), a member of South Africa’s National Unity Government led by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s African National Congress (ANC).

In a statement, the DA argued that labeling the drills as “BRICS cooperation” obscures what it described as Pretoria’s growing military alignment with “rogue and sanctioned states such as Russia and Iran.”

Deputy Defence Minister Bantu Holomisa rejected the criticism, saying joint naval drills are not new for South Africa. Speaking to local broadcaster Newzroom Afrika on Friday, Holomisa emphasized that the SANDF has a long history of military cooperation with partner nations.

“It’s not the first time that they will be doing this exercise with friendly countries,” he said, adding that South Africa’s membership in BRICS naturally expands the scope of such cooperation.

BRICS Dimension and Military Morale

Holomisa noted that BRICS, originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, has expanded to include countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Ethiopia, Indonesia and Iran. He said the exercise would help boost troop morale and provide valuable training opportunities alongside well-equipped militaries.

“It is an honor for them to practice with countries that are advanced in military terms,” he added.

Strained US–South Africa Relations

The naval drills come at a sensitive moment in relations between Pretoria and Washington. Ties deteriorated sharply last year over disagreements on foreign and domestic policy, including accusations by US President Donald Trump alleging “genocide” against Afrikaners and land confiscation claims, which South Africa strongly denied.

The United States also boycotted last year’s G20 summit in Johannesburg, the first time the gathering was held on African soil.

Expert Warnings Over Diplomatic Fallout

Political analyst Andre Duvenhage of North West University warned that the joint exercise could further damage South Africa’s standing with Western partners.

“I have no doubt that this will complicate the relationship with the United States of America, as well as other Western countries,” Duvenhage said, adding that South Africa urgently needs foreign investment and economic support. “It is problematic; it’s giving the wrong signals to the wrong people.”