CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — A week of naval drills involving warships from China, Russia, and Iran commenced off the coast of Cape Town on Friday. This joint exercise occurs amidst heightened geopolitical tensions, particularly related to the United States’ intervention in Venezuela and its attempts to seize oil tankers from the country.
The drills, which are organized by the BRICS bloc of developing nations, aim to enhance maritime safety and anti-piracy operations while fostering deeper cooperation among the participating nations. South Africa's armed forces indicated that the exercises mark an ongoing effort to collaborate on these significant maritime issues.
China, Russia, and South Africa are long-standing BRICS members, while Iran joined the grouping in 2024. The Iranian navy's participation in the exercises takes place against a backdrop of domestic protests within Iran against its leadership, highlighting the complexity of the geopolitical situation.
As the drills unfold, it remains unclear whether other BRICS countries, such as Brazil, India, and the United Arab Emirates, will also take part. A spokesperson for the South African armed forces noted that details on participation from additional countries are yet to be confirmed. The exercises, which will last until next Friday, have already generated attention as Chinese, Russian, and Iranian warships were observed entering and exiting the harbor of Simon’s Town, which is South Africa’s primary naval base.
Among the vessels in attendance, China’s contribution includes the destroyer class ship, the Tangshan, measuring 161 meters (528 feet) in length. The Russian Baltic Fleet dispatched a smaller warship, the Stoikiy, along with a replenishment tanker for this operation. South Africa had previously hosted naval drills involving Chinese and Russian ships in 2023, indicating a trend of military collaboration between these nations.
The latest drills were originally scheduled for late November but were postponed due to diplomatic considerations, specifically to accommodate the Group of 20 summit hosted by South Africa at the same time. This delay adds another layer to the complex dynamics of South Africa's foreign relations, particularly with the U.S.
Hosting these military exercises is likely to further strain the relationship between the United States and South Africa, the continent's most developed economy and a prominent voice for African issues. The country has faced criticism from the Trump administration, which accused it of supporting "bad actors" globally, especially pointing at South Africa's ties with Iran.
In an executive order issued in February, then-President Donald Trump highlighted the notion that South Africa's connections with entities like Iran were justifications for cutting funding to the country. Meanwhile, China and Russia have frequently utilized BRICS forums to voice their criticisms of the United States and Western nations, further complicating South Africa's position in international affairs.
While South Africa has consistently professed a nonaligned foreign policy stance, recent developments, particularly involving military maneuvers alongside Russian forces, have tested its relationship with the U.S. In 2023, the Biden administration accused South Africa of permitting a sanctioned Russian vessel to dock at Simon’s Town for the purpose of loading weapons intended for Russia's engagement in Ukraine; South Africa has denied these allegations.
There has also been internal pushback regarding South Africa's decision to host Russian and Iranian warships. The Democratic Alliance, the country’s second-largest political party, expressed opposition to the joint military exercises, criticizing the government for choosing to strengthen military ties with states under heavy sanctions.
The party described the exercises as a misleading exercise in "BRICS cooperation," framing them as a policy choice that aligns South Africa with rogue states rather than fostering genuine international collaboration.
