South Africa Defends Naval Drills With China, Iran, and Russia as ‘Essential’

A general view of the Chinese guided-missile destroyer Tangshan (Hull 122) moored in False Bay, close to Simon's Town, near Cape Town, on January 6, 2026. Photo by RODGER BOSCH / AFP

South Africa on Saturday began naval drills with Russia, Iran, and China, describing the maneuvers off its coast as not merely a show of force but a vital response to rising maritime tensions.

The week‑long ‘Will for Peace 2026’ exercises come just days after the United States seized a Russian‑flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic, saying it carried crude bound for Venezuela, Russia, and Iran in violation of Western sanctions.

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by Agence France-Presse

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