Here is a list of SA’s recent defence agreements as it prepares to host naval drill

The Russian Navy frigate Neustrashimy docking in Simonstown in October. Picture: Gallo Images / Brenton Geach South Africa’s hosting of a naval exercise with Russia, China and Iran is set to cause much debate in the coming weeks. Exercise Will for Peace 2026, also known as Mosi III, will be the third such drill featuring South Africa, following the 2019 and 2023 variants.

The exercise will be led by China and hosted in South African waters between 9 and 16 January, focusing on “joint actions to ensure the safety of shipping and maritime economic activities”. “This theme reflects 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,” the SANDF confirmed earlier this week. While BRICS nations have no formal military pact, there are several bilateral agreements, with the Centre for European Policy Analysis detailing Russia and China’s complex levels of cooperation.

South Africa has pending agreements with both, as well as other agreements with nations of varying significance. The Department of Defence (DoD) recently confirmed the number of defence agreements signed since 2022 in a response to a parliamentary question signed off by Minister Angie Motshekga on 13 December. The DoD was asked about the details of individual agreements, listing only nine signed in the last five years and excluding agreements signed with multi-national organisations.

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In addition to Russia and China, the DoD signed agreements with four African nations, two European nations, and one other Asian nation. South Africa has defence cooperation agreements with Ivory Coast and Burundi signed in December 2021 and June 2023, as well as memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed with Lesotho in May 2025. The department’s other individual national obligation in Africa is with Ghana, after signing a defence training and technical cooperation in February 2023.

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