Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.

For the first time, multiple BRICS member nations will hold joint naval exercises under the expanded BRICS+ framework.

Some shit you should know before you dig in: If you’re unaware, BRICS is a coalition of major emerging economies (originally Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) formed to promote economic cooperation and act as a counterbalance to Western-dominated institutions like the G7 and the International Monetary Fund. While BRICS has historically positioned itself as an economic bloc, there’s been speculation that it could evolve into a NATO-like alliance by serving as a geopolitical counterweight to Western military and diplomatic influence. The following countries are BRICS members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Iran.

What’s going on now: Multiple naval vessels have arrived in South Africa as part of the “Will for Peace 2026” navalexercise, marking a significant show of joint military coordination under the BRICS+ banner. Warships from China, Russia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates are participating in a week-long series of maritime drills. The operations focus on joint maritime safety protocols, interoperability drills, and securing economic shipping routes at a time of rising global tensions. China deployed a destroyer and a supply ship, Russia sent a corvette, Iran contributed a corvette, forward base ship, and expeditionary vessel, and South Africa sent a frigate. Brazil, Ethiopia, and Indonesia are attending as observers.

India is notably sitting out the exercises, despite being a founding BRICS member. Some believe India is wary of the expanding military dimension of BRICS, especially given its strategic alignment with the US and ongoing tensions with China. The Indian government has offered no official explanation as to why it sat this out.

South African officials have defended the exercise, with Captain Nndwakhulu Thomas Thamaha saying, “It is a demonstration of our collective resolve to work together… In an increasingly complex maritime environment, cooperation such as this is not an option, it is essential.”

The Chinese military echoed these sentiments, calling the war games a way to “deepen cooperation among participating nations and enhance their ability to tackle maritime threats jointly.”