Cape Town, South Africa — A small group of Ukrainian immigrants residing in Cape Town gathered on Friday at Simon’s Town, home to South Africa’s primary naval base, to protest against Russia’s participation in a multinational naval exercise, “Will for Peace 2026.” The week‑long drill, which runs from January 9–16, involves warships from China, Russia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates and is being conducted in South African waters off the Cape Town coast.
Protesters expressed deep concern over Russia’s role in the exercise, given its ongoing full‑scale war against Ukraine. Ukrainian expatriate Kateryna Fedkina described the inclusion of Russian naval forces as emotionally distressing, stating that seeing vessels from a nation she called “an aggressive state” training in South African waters is “hard for us to see.”
The naval drills organised under the expanded BRICS Plus framework are led by China and bring together several emerging nations’ navies to conduct joint maritime safety operations and improve operational interoperability. South African officials emphasise that the exercise aims to enhance collective capabilities to safeguard shipping routes and promote maritime security.
Criticism and Geopolitical Context
The protests reflect broader geopolitical tensions surrounding the event. Russia’s participation has drawn criticism from Ukraine and heightened scrutiny over South Africa’s military cooperation with Moscow, particularly while the war in Ukraine continues. Demonstrators urged the South African government to reconsider military cooperation with Russia, underscoring the symbolic impact of hosting such maneuvers.
Domestically, South Africa’s main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, has also voiced concern, arguing that exercises involving Russia and Iran both under international sanctions undermine Pretoria’s stated policy of non‑alignment and could harm the nation’s diplomatic standing.
In response to the criticism, Deputy Defence Minister Bantu Holomisa told local media that the exercise was planned well before current geopolitical developments and is focused on professional naval cooperation rather than political alignment.
Broader Strategic Dynamics
The naval drills come amid heightened global tensions, including disputes relating to U.S. actions in Venezuela and broader debates over shifting international alliances. While the exercise aims to deepen collaboration among participating navies, its timing and composition have sparked debate over South Africa’s role on the world stage and how it balances relationships with both Western and emerging powers.
