02:10Chinese, Iranian, and Russian military vessels arrived in False Bay on Thursday to participate in the BRICS naval exercises 'Will for Peace 2026'.
Footage shows naval ships docked at Simon's Town, home to the South African Navy's largest base, while small boats move freely in the surrounding waters.
China is leading the multinational naval drills that begin on Friday and run until January 16. According to media reports, the South African National Defence Force wants to 'strengthen co-operation' and 'protect key maritime trade routes'.
The exercise - 'Joint Actions to Ensure the Safety of Shipping and Maritime Economic Activities' - focuses on an intensive programme of joint maritime safety operations, interoperability drills, and naval protection serials.
China sent its Type 052DL guided-missile destroyer Tangshan and its Type 903A replenishment ship Taihu to take part in the training. The two vessels, which are part of China's naval escort task force in the Gulf of Aden, stopped in Kenya in December for maintenance before continuing south.
Russia is contributing the Steregushchiy-class corvette Stoikiy, with a Ka-27PL ASW helicopter on board, and its escorting Altay-class oiler Yelnya. Iran is participating with vessels from its 103rd flotilla, including the forward base ship IRIS Makran, the expeditionary base ship IRIS Shahid Mahdavi, and the Bayandor-class corvette IRIS Naghdi.
Media reports say Indonesia and Ethiopia may join the exercise as observers.
BRICS comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates.
It went from strength to strength over the course of 2025, welcoming 10 new partner nations - Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Nigeria and Vietnam. The organisation now covers half the world's population and a third of the global economy.
Power of BRICS! - Chinese, Russian and Iranian warships in South Africa for group's 'Will for Peace' exercises
Chinese, Iranian, and Russian military vessels arrived in False Bay on Thursday to participate in the BRICS naval exercises 'Will for Peace 2026'.
Footage shows naval ships docked at Simon's Town, home to the South African Navy's largest base, while small boats move freely in the surrounding waters.
China is leading the multinational naval drills that begin on Friday and run until January 16. According to media reports, the South African National Defence Force wants to 'strengthen co-operation' and 'protect key maritime trade routes'.
The exercise - 'Joint Actions to Ensure the Safety of Shipping and Maritime Economic Activities' - focuses on an intensive programme of joint maritime safety operations, interoperability drills, and naval protection serials.
China sent its Type 052DL guided-missile destroyer Tangshan and its Type 903A replenishment ship Taihu to take part in the training. The two vessels, which are part of China's naval escort task force in the Gulf of Aden, stopped in Kenya in December for maintenance before continuing south.
Russia is contributing the Steregushchiy-class corvette Stoikiy, with a Ka-27PL ASW helicopter on board, and its escorting Altay-class oiler Yelnya. Iran is participating with vessels from its 103rd flotilla, including the forward base ship IRIS Makran, the expeditionary base ship IRIS Shahid Mahdavi, and the Bayandor-class corvette IRIS Naghdi.
Media reports say Indonesia and Ethiopia may join the exercise as observers.
BRICS comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates.
It went from strength to strength over the course of 2025, welcoming 10 new partner nations - Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Nigeria and Vietnam. The organisation now covers half the world's population and a third of the global economy.
Chinese, Iranian, and Russian military vessels arrived in False Bay on Thursday to participate in the BRICS naval exercises 'Will for Peace 2026'.
Footage shows naval ships docked at Simon's Town, home to the South African Navy's largest base, while small boats move freely in the surrounding waters.
China is leading the multinational naval drills that begin on Friday and run until January 16. According to media reports, the South African National Defence Force wants to 'strengthen co-operation' and 'protect key maritime trade routes'.
The exercise - 'Joint Actions to Ensure the Safety of Shipping and Maritime Economic Activities' - focuses on an intensive programme of joint maritime safety operations, interoperability drills, and naval protection serials.
China sent its Type 052DL guided-missile destroyer Tangshan and its Type 903A replenishment ship Taihu to take part in the training. The two vessels, which are part of China's naval escort task force in the Gulf of Aden, stopped in Kenya in December for maintenance before continuing south.
Russia is contributing the Steregushchiy-class corvette Stoikiy, with a Ka-27PL ASW helicopter on board, and its escorting Altay-class oiler Yelnya. Iran is participating with vessels from its 103rd flotilla, including the forward base ship IRIS Makran, the expeditionary base ship IRIS Shahid Mahdavi, and the Bayandor-class corvette IRIS Naghdi.
Media reports say Indonesia and Ethiopia may join the exercise as observers.
BRICS comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates.
It went from strength to strength over the course of 2025, welcoming 10 new partner nations - Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Nigeria and Vietnam. The organisation now covers half the world's population and a third of the global economy.