South Africa is hosting a week-long naval exercise off Cape Town that includes China, Russia and Iran. The drills, branded “Will for Peace 2026”, run from January 9 to January 16 and are happening around Simon’s Town and False Bay.

What “Will for Peace 2026” Looks Like

The defence force says the exercise focuses on maritime safety, protecting key sea routes and improving how different navies work together at sea. It has been described as a BRICS Plus exercise aimed at safeguarding shipping and maritime economic activity.

Warships have been arriving in the Cape over the past week. A Chinese destroyer docked at Simon’s Town, social media images showed Russian vessels approaching the harbour and an Iranian forward base ship, IRIS Makran, was sighted near Simon’s Town.

Why This Matters for SA–US Relations

The timing is awkward because Pretoria and Washington have had a tense stretch since US President Donald Trump returned to office. South Africa’s ties with Iran have been a specific point of friction and hosting a drill that includes countries Washington often treats as rivals is likely to add heat.

Trump has also criticised BRICS countries as “anti-American” and has previously threatened trade penalties against members.

Politics at Home: Criticism and a Shrug

The Democratic Alliance has warned that exercises involving Russia and Iran clash with South Africa’s claims of non-alignment. It has called for a clearer and more principled defence stance.

Deputy Defence Minister Bantu Holomisa has pushed back hard, arguing the drills were planned long before the current flare-ups and that the SANDF trains with “friendly countries” regularly. He has also framed the exercise as being in South Africa’s interests and in the interests of the Global South.

The exercise is scheduled to wrap up on January 16. The bigger question is diplomatic fallout, especially as South Africa tries to balance its BRICS commitments with trade and political ties that still matter a lot for ordinary South Africans.