By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South Africa will host a BRICS Plus naval exercise in its waters from 9-16 January 2026, with Iran set to participate for the first time alongside Russia and China.
The Exercise Mosi III drills, now dubbed Exercise Will for Peace 2026, will focus on maritime safety, interoperability training and protection of key trade routes, reflecting BRICS Plus’ growing role in global security cooperation.
South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in a statement on 30 December said the exercise is now titled Will for Peace, and will be led by the People’s Republic of China.
“Exercise Will for Peace 2026 brings together navies from BRICS Plus countries for an intensive programme of joint maritime safety operations, interoperability drills and maritime protection serials,” said a statement issued by Brigadier General Nditsheni Singo, Acting General Officer Commanding Joint Operational Headquarters.
The participating nations have jointly agreed on the exercise theme ‘Joint Actions to Ensure the Safety of Shipping and Maritime Economic Activities.’ “This theme reflects the collective commitment of all participating navies to safeguard maritime trade routes, enhance shared operational procedures and deepen cooperation in support of peaceful maritime security initiatives. Further details for the exercise will be communicated through subsequent communication,” the SANDF said.
Exercise Mosi has taken place every two years with Russia, China, and South Africa, with the most recent edition postponed from November as South Africa was hosting the G20 summit.
The upcoming exercise has attracted criticism, notably from the Democratic Alliance (DA), which argues that BRICS was intended as an economic partnership, not a military alliance.
Chris Hattingh, DA Spokesperson on Defence and Military Veterans, said the participation of Iran and Russia “make it increasingly difficult for the government to maintain that South Africa is genuinely pursuing a policy of non-alignment.”
Hattingh said, hosting military forces from countries involved in active conflicts and human rights abuses sends a “clear political signal”, regardless of official government denials.
“South Africa’s policy of non-alignment is being hollowed out. What begins as quiet military cooperation slips into secrecy and ends in open alignment,” he said.
He warned that the move will deepen tensions with Washington, noting Iran’s president has publicly described his country as being in a state of war with the US and Western powers.
South Africa’s relations with the United States have come under increasing strain in recent months, with bills being proposed in the Senate that cite alleged South African alignment with malign actors.