Chinese and Iranian warships have docked near South Africa’s primary naval base ahead of a multinational maritime exercise scheduled to run from January 9 to 16, an event that could further complicate Pretoria’s relations with the United States.
The drills, dubbed “Will for Peace,” are being hosted by South Africa and led by China. They are also expected to involve Russian naval vessels, according to South African navy officials. Journalists observed two Chinese warships anchored in False Bay near Cape Town on Wednesday, with an Iranian vessel arriving the following day.
South Africa’s defence force said when announcing the exercises in December that the operation is focused on enhancing the safety of shipping and maritime economic activities. Officials described the drills as an effort to deepen cooperation in support of peaceful maritime security initiatives, involving navies from countries in the BRICS bloc.
The exercises come against the backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions. US President Donald Trump has accused BRICS nations of pursuing “anti-American” policies, while Washington has repeatedly criticised South Africa over its close ties with Russia and other foreign policy positions.
Pretoria has faced particular scrutiny for hosting joint naval drills with Russia and China in 2023, which coincided with the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Its decision to file a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice over the war in Gaza has also drawn sharp criticism from the United States.
The latest manoeuvres are likely to renew debate over South Africa’s strategic alignments as it seeks to balance its non-aligned posture with deepening partnerships beyond the West.
