The probable participation of Iran in ‘Exercise Will for Peace’ is likely to be controversial — military experts say the exercise has more downside than upside for South Africa.
A soldier patrols onboard the Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov in Richards Bay on Wednesday, 22 February 2023, before the internationally controversial MOSI II naval drills between Russia, South Africa and China. (Photo: Waldo Swiegers / Bloomberg via Getty Images)
A soldier patrols onboard the Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov in Richards Bay on Wednesday, 22 February 2023, before the internationally controversial MOSI II naval drills between Russia, South Africa and China.
South Africa will host a joint naval exercise with other countries of the BRICS-Plus group next month, the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) has confirmed.
It said that China would lead the “Joint, inter-agency, inter-departmental, Multinational Exercise to be hosted in South African waters” from 9 to 16 January 2026.
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Russian navy ships, among them the frigate Admiral Gorshkov, which participated in Exercise Mosi II in 2023. (Photo: Olga Maltseva / AFP)
Reports had earlier indicated that this would be the third iteration of the series of Mosi naval exercises comprising the South African, Russian and Chinese navies. Mosi I was held in 2019 and Mosi II in 2023.
But the SANDF statement on Tuesday referred to the upcoming exercise as “Exercise Will for Peace 2026”.
It did not specifically mention which other countries would participate, other than saying it would “bring together navies from BRICS-Plus countries for an intensive programme of joint maritime safety operations, interoperability drills and maritime protection serials”.
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A soldier stands guard onboard the Chinese frigate Rizhao 598 in Richards Bay on 22 February 2023, ahead of naval drills between Russia, South Africa and China. The exercises were criticised by some of South Africa’s biggest trade partners, including the US and European Union, who questioned the timing of the exercises, which took place a year after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. (Photo: Waldo Swiegers / Bloomberg via Getty Images)
It said the participating nations had agreed on the exercise theme: “Joint actions to ensure the safety of shipping and maritime economic activities”. This theme reflected 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.
Iranian flotillas set sail
The Tehran Times of 22 December quoted Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, the commander of Naval Force of the Iranian Army, as saying the 103rd and 104th flotillas of the navy had already set sail for South Africa.
The 103rd flotilla would participate in the BRICS military exercise while the 104th would escort commercial shipping.
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Daily Maverick asked SANDF spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini which navies would participate. He said he had not yet received confirmation of that – China was leading the exercise and would have extended the invitations.
BRICS-Plus comprises Brazil, China, Russia, India, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia has also been invited to join, but has not formally confirmed its membership.
Media reports have indicated that Indonesia and Ethiopia would also participate in next month’s exercise, though possibly only as observers.
Mosi II annoyed Western countries mainly because of the participation of Russia, and especially because it took place on the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Read more: ‘Insensitive’ SANDF to plough ahead with joint maritime exercise with Russia and China
Iran’s participation in the exercise, if confirmed, is likely to make Exercise Will for Peace 2026 even more controversial since Iran is regarded as a sponsor of the radical Hamas and Hezbollah militias fighting Israel. Iran has been involved in a military standoff with the US, which earlier this year bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities.
‘BRICS’ billing queried
Military analysts have also questioned the billing of this as a BRICS exercise, as BRICS does not have a defence operation agreement. Brazil and India did not participate in Mosi I or II and seem unlikely to participate in Exercise for Peace 2026 either.
Darren Olivier, military expert and a director at African Defence Review, said, “It’s a BRICS exercise in name only. There’s no mechanism within BRICS to plan, organise or execute a military exercise.
“Calling it a ‘BRICS’ exercise makes about as much sense as having a ‘G7’ or ‘G20’ exercise. South Africa may be attempting to make the exercise appear to be more legitimate by casting it as a BRICS exercise, but this has not been organised by BRICS.”
He said the focus should remain on the countries taking part, and in that sense, this exercise was just like exercises Mosi I and II, except that now Iran seemed likely to be taking an active part alongside Russia and China.
‘Not smart geopolitics’
“This is not smart geopolitics from South Africa, which should be looking to avoid being seen to be too closely linked with Iran, Russia and China militarily, but to rather have a broader set of partners.
“That should include doubling down and reinforcing its existing military agreements and exercises with India and Brazil, including the Ibsamar maritime exercise, which is both far more useful than Exercise Mosi for South Africa and with two fellow BRICS members.”