By Zoila Palma: Today, China, Russia and Iran launched a week-long series of joint naval exercises in South African waters, an operation described by the host nation as a BRICS Plus effort aimed at ensuring the safety of shipping and maritime economic activity, Reuters report.
The drills, dubbed Exercise WILL FOR PEACE 2026, bring together navies from the expanded BRICS grouping to conduct joint maritime security operations and interoperability training, South Africa’s military said.
BRICS Plus is an expanded version of the bloc originally made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, and is viewed by its members as a counterweight to U.S. and Western economic influence.
The enlarged group now includes Egypt, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates.
Chinese military officials at the opening ceremony said Brazil, Egypt and Ethiopia were taking part as observers, adding that all BRICS Plus members had been invited.
The exercises come amid heightened tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration and several BRICS Plus countries, including China, Iran, South Africa and Brazil.
Trump has accused the bloc of pursuing “anti-American” policies and last year threatened members with additional trade tariffs.
In South Africa, the pro-Western Democratic Alliance criticized the drills as undermining the country’s neutrality, a claim rejected by military officials, who said the exercises were not political and posed no hostility toward the United States.
The post International News: China, Russia and Iran launch BRICS plus naval drills in South African waters appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: Today, China, Russia and Iran launched a week-long series of joint naval exercises in South African waters, an operation described by the host nation as a BRICS Plus effort aimed at ensuring the safety of shipping and maritime economic activity, Reuters report. The drills, dubbed Exercise WILL FOR PEACE 2026, bring together
The post International News: China, Russia and Iran launch BRICS plus naval drills in South African waters appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
