A Russian warship has sailed into South African waters.
It will join Chinese and Iranian naval vessels for a week-long set of military exercises off Cape Town.
This move could further strain Pretoria’s already tense relationship with Washington.
The corvette Stoikiy, flying the Russian flag, pulled into False Bay near Simon’s Town, South Africa’s main naval base, on Friday.
It was part of the China-led “Will for Peace 2026” drills.
Earlier this week, a Chinese destroyer and supply ship, plus an Iranian forward base vessel, arrived ahead of the exercises set to run until Jan. 16.
Officially, the manoeuvres bring together navies from the expanded BRICS Plus grouping — originally Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
They practice maritime safety, joint operations and protection of shipping routes.
Military Drills Planned
Deputy Defence Minister Bantu Holomisa said the timing was not in response to global tensions.
He said it had been planned well before current geopolitical strains.
Still, the exercises come at a sensitive moment.
The United States has criticised South Africa’s ties with Russia and Iran.
Analysts say hosting sanctioned countries’ warships under the BRICS banner could damage Pretoria’s diplomatic standing with Washington.
So while the ship movements underscore deeper military cooperation among BRICS states, the drill’s name — “Will for Peace” — also prompts a question.
Peace for whom, and at what diplomatic cost?
