A general view of the Chinese guided- missile destroyer Tangshan, right, and the Chinese comprehensive supply ship Taihu, left, moored in False Bay, close to Simon’s Town, near Cape Town, this week. The People’s Republic of China will lead a joint, interagency, inter-departmental, multinational exercise in South African waters from Friday. Exercise WILL FOR PEACE 2026 brings together navies from BRICS Plus countries.
The joint military exercises planned to take place off the coast of South Africa from today, January 9, could cause the country further financial turmoil by “irritating” its key trading partners. Military experts have warned that while the exercises are unlikely to provoke a military reaction from countries like the US, they could, however, trigger an even harsher financial response. The naval exercises are planned with Russia, China, and Iran.
They have been labelled as BRICS Plus, although India and Brazil are not taking part. The opening ceremony is on January 10. The relationship between South Africa and the US is at its lowest ebb since the return of Donald Trump as US president.
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The two countries have been at loggerheads, with the USA imposing tariffs of 30% on South Africa. Chris Hattingh, DA spokesperson on Defence and Military Veterans, said a China-led naval exercise involving foreign navies in South Africa could undermine the country’s non-aligned stance. “Hosting and training with such forces cannot be described as neutral or non-aligned.
It is a political choice, whether the government admits it or not. South Africa’s policy of non-alignment is losing credibility because our words and actions no longer match,” he added.
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