Warships from several members of the Brics group of developing nations have arrived in Cape Town waters ahead of a multinational naval exercise, Will for Peace, which begins in South African territorial waters today. China will lead the “Will for Peace” 2026 drill, which runs until next Friday. The exercise is expected to showcase participants’ collective commitment to safeguarding maritime trade routes and deepening co-operation in support of peaceful maritime security, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) said in a statement.
According to the SANDF, the exercise — previously known as Exercise MOSI III and now renamed Will for Peace — will be led by China. “Exercise Will for Peace 2026 brings together navies from Brics Plus countries for an intensive programme of joint maritime safety operations, interoperability drills and maritime protection serials,” the SANDF said in a statement issued by Brigadier General Nditsheni Singo, acting commanding officer of the Joint Operational Headquarters. The theme of the exercise is 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 co-operation in support of peaceful maritime security initiatives,” the SANDF said. Exercise MOSI is held every two years, but the most recent iteration was postponed in November because of the G20 summit. Russia is deploying the Steregushchiy-class corvette Stoykiy (F545), carrying a Ka-27PL anti-submarine warfare helicopter, and is escorting the Altay-class vessel Yelnya (A168). The vessels arrived in Pointe-Noire, in the Republic of the Congo, on December 21.
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