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South African official says drills with Russia, Iran, China and others key to defending ‘maritime financial actions’.
South Africa has defended weeklong naval drills with Russia, Iran, China and different international locations as “important”, describing the manoeuvres off its coast as a significant response to rising maritime tensions globally.
The “Will for Peace 2026” workouts that started on Saturday off the coast of Cape City come simply days after the USA seized a Venezuela-linked Russian oil tanker within the North Atlantic, saying it had violated Western sanctions.
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The seizure, a part of a continued US stress marketing campaign towards Venezuela, adopted US assaults on the South American nation and the kidnapping of its president, Nicolas Maduro.
The naval workouts additionally come at a time of heightened tensions between US President Donald Trump’s administration and several other BRICS Plus international locations, together with China, Iran, South Africa and Brazil.
Captain Nndwakhulu Thomas Thamaha, South Africa’s joint job pressure commander, advised the opening ceremony on Saturday that the drills had been greater than a army train and a press release of intent among the many BRICS group of countries.
“It’s a demonstration of our collective resolve to work collectively,” Thamaha stated. “In an more and more complicated maritime surroundings, cooperation corresponding to this isn’t an choice, it’s important.”
The workouts additionally aimed to “guarantee the protection of delivery lanes and maritime financial actions”, he added.
Increasing bloc
BRICS, initially made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, has expanded to incorporate Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.
Lieutenant Colonel Mpho Mathebula, appearing spokesperson for joint operations, advised the Reuters information company that every one member states had been invited to this week’s naval workouts.
China and Iran deployed destroyer warships to South Africa, whereas Russia and the United Arab Emirates despatched corvette vessels and South Africa dispatched a frigate. Indonesia, Ethiopia and Brazil have joined as observers.
Requested concerning the timing of the occasion, South Africa’s Deputy Defence Minister Bantu Holomisa stated on Friday that the drills had been deliberate lengthy earlier than the present spike in international tensions.
“Allow us to not press panic buttons as a result of the USA has acquired an issue with international locations. These should not our enemies,” Holomisa stated.
“Let’s concentrate on cooperating with the BRICS international locations and guarantee that our seas, particularly the Indian Ocean and Atlantic, they’re protected,” he stated.
Beforehand often called Train Mosi, the drills had been initially scheduled for November however postponed attributable to a conflict with the G20 summit in Johannesburg, which was boycotted by the Trump administration.
Washington has accused the BRICS bloc of “anti‑American” insurance policies and warned that its members might face a further 10-percent tariff on high of current duties already utilized worldwide.
South Africa has additionally drawn US criticism for its shut ties with Russia and a spread of different insurance policies.
That features the South African authorities’s determination to deliver a case towards high US ally Israel to the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice, accusing the Israeli authorities of committing genocide towards Palestinians within the Gaza Strip.
South Africa additionally drew criticism for internet hosting naval drills with Russia and China in 2023, coinciding with the primary anniversary of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
The three nations first performed joint naval drills in 2019.
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