BRICS+ naval exercise exposes fault lines in non-aligned bloc

Overview

Chinese destroyers, Russian corvettes, and Iranian warships sailed into South Africa's Simon's Town Naval Base on January 9 for a week-long joint exercise. China leads the operation. Russia and Iran—both heavily sanctioned, both fighting active wars—sent their fleets. India and Brazil, despite the BRICS branding, are nowhere to be found. On January 10, the South African government doubled down, calling the drills 'essential' maritime cooperation despite mounting domestic and international pressure.

In This Story

3 People

4 Orgs

US Revokes AGOA Benefits, SA Pivots East

3 Context

Non-Aligned Movement During Cold War

Key Indicators

4 of 9

BRICS members participating

India, Brazil, Egypt, UAE, and Saudi Arabia notably absent from military cooperation

$53B

South Africa-EU trade volume

Dwarfs the $750M with Russia, yet SA risks Western partnerships for BRICS drills

0.7%

SA defense spending as % of GDP

Only 15-20% of SANDF aircraft serviceable; one operational frigate

3rd

Exercise in the Mosi series

Originally scheduled for November 2025, postponed to avoid G20 summit clash

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People Involved

Cyril Ramaphosa

President of South Africa (Defending non-alignment policy while hosting sanctioned nations)

Angie Motshekga

Minister of Defence and Military Veterans (Facing parliamentary oversight criticism over exercise transparency)

Chris Hattingh

DA Spokesperson on Defence and Military Veterans (Leading parliamentary opposition to the exercise)

Organizations Involved

BRICS

International Economic and Political Bloc

Status: Expanded to nine members in 2024, hosting first branded military exercise

An economic bloc representing half the world's population and 41% of global GDP at purchasing power parity—with no defense treaty.

South African Navy

Military Service Branch

Status: Hosting multinational exercise with only one operational frigate

A force operating one frigate and struggling with 68% of budget consumed by salaries.

People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)

Military Service Branch

Status: Leading Will for Peace 2026 exercise

The world's largest navy by hull count, now leading exercises 8,000 miles from Beijing.

Democratic Alliance (DA)

Political Party

Status: Leading parliamentary opposition to exercise

South Africa's official opposition, warning the exercise undermines non-alignment and risks trade retaliation.

Timeline

Government Defends Exercises as 'Essential'
Political

South African government issued official statement defending naval drills with Iran, Russia, and China as 'essential' maritime cooperation. SANDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Mpho Mathebula rejected DA criticism, stating exercise was 'not political in nature' and noting SA also conducts exercises with US Navy.
January 10th, 2026
Will for Peace 2026 Commences
Military

Week-long exercise begins in South African territorial waters. Theme: 'Joint Actions to Ensure the Safety of Shipping and Maritime Economic Activities.' India and Brazil absent.
January 9th, 2026
Warships Arrive at Simon's Town
Military

Chinese, Russian, and Iranian vessels docked. Iran's Makran forward base ship, China's Tangshan destroyer, Russia's Stoykiy corvette visible in False Bay.
January 8th, 2026
Exercise Rebranded as 'Will for Peace 2026'
Political

SANDF officially announced exercise with new name. DA called it Mosi III with 'softer language,' questioning whether rebranding addressed concerns.
December 31st, 2025
Chinese Warships Stop in Mombasa
Military

PLAN destroyer Tangshan and supply ship Taihu conducted maintenance in Kenya en route from Gulf of Aden anti-piracy operations to South Africa.
December 24th, 2025
Mosi III Postponed to Avoid G20 Clash
Political

Exercise originally scheduled for November delayed after diplomatic pressure. South Africa hosting G20 summit made timing politically awkward.
November 15th, 2025
AGOA Trade Preferences Expire
Economic

African Growth and Opportunity Act expired after Congress declined to renew the program. South Africa and other African nations lost duty-free access to US markets. The expiration removes one major trade leverage point the US previously held over South Africa's foreign policy choices.
September 30th, 2025
BRICS Pay Prototype Demonstrated
Economic

At Kazan summit, Russia showcased alternative payment system using QR codes and local currencies to bypass SWIFT and reduce dollar dependence.
October 22nd, 2024
Four New Members Join BRICS
Political

Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and UAE became full members. Saudi Arabia delayed decision. BRICS now represents 3.2 billion people, 41% of global GDP at PPP.
January 1st, 2024
BRICS Expands to Nine Members
Political

Johannesburg summit announced Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Argentina invited. Only Argentina declined under new president.
August 24th, 2023
US Accuses South Africa of Arming Russia
Diplomatic

US Ambassador Reuben Brigety alleged Russian ship Lady R loaded weapons at Simon's Town, threatening AGOA trade status. South Africa denied allegations.
May 11th, 2023
Exercise Mosi II Begins on Ukraine Anniversary
Military

Ten days of drills near Durban coincided with first anniversary of Russia's Ukraine invasion, sparking diplomatic controversy and US Congressional criticism.
February 17th, 2023
Exercise Mosi I — First Trilateral Drills
Military

South Africa, China, and Russia conducted first joint naval exercise off Cape Town. The operation established pattern for future cooperation.
November 1st, 2019

Scenarios

US Revokes AGOA Benefits, SA Pivots East

Discussed by: Democratic Alliance, military analysts, Bloomberg

If Washington determines South Africa's hosting of sanctioned forces undermines US foreign policy interests—a statutory AGOA requirement—it could strip duty-free trade access. South Africa exports $3 billion to the US under AGOA, concentrated in automotive and agriculture. Loss would hit manufacturing jobs in provinces ANC needs electorally. Government responds by deepening BRICS ties, accelerating yuan-rand trade, joining BRICS Pay. Economic pain in short term, but signals full break from Western economic dependence. China and Russia expand investment to cushion blow. South Africa becomes test case for whether Global South nations can realign away from Western markets without economic collapse.

Exercises Become Annual, India and Brazil Never Join

Discussed by: Defense analysts, Foreign Policy Research Institute, Atlantic Council

The 'BRICS' branding remains, but the exercise settles into a permanent China-Russia-Iran-South Africa format. India won't join because it contradicts Quad commitments and its border dispute with China makes joint military operations politically impossible. Brazil stays out because its security relationships with non-BRICS states matter more than symbolic solidarity. The exercise becomes an annual signal of an alternative security architecture—not collective defense, but coordinated opposition to Western naval dominance in the Global South. Participation expands to include Pakistan, Venezuela, Nicaragua as 'BRICS partner countries.' The bloc splits into economic cooperation (all nine members) versus security signaling (the willing four).

South Africa Cancels Future Exercises After Economic Blowback

Discussed by: Western embassies, South African business community

Trade warnings from US and EU materialize. Investment flows drop. Tourism takes hit from reputational damage. Business lobby pressures Ramaphosa: symbolic BRICS solidarity isn't worth risking the $53 billion EU relationship. Government quietly announces 2027 exercise postponed 'for budgetary reasons'—true enough given SANDF's crisis—and it never reschedules. South Africa maintains BRICS economic membership but backs away from military cooperation with sanctioned states. China and Russia express disappointment but continue bilateral engagement. DA claims victory. ANC splits between pragmatists and ideological hard-liners who see it as capitulation to Western pressure.

Exercise Expands into Permanent BRICS+ Maritime Command

Discussed by: Chinese military publications, BRICS policy researchers

If BRICS formalizes military cooperation beyond ad hoc exercises, it could establish a maritime coordination center—not NATO-level integration, but something between symbolic drills and actual alliance. Headquarters in South Africa, rotating command, focused on anti-piracy and 'freedom of navigation' in Global South waters (coded pushback against Western naval presence). Ethiopia and Indonesia join as BRICS+ partners. The structure remains loose enough for India to participate without contradicting Quad membership—purely defensive, no Article 5 commitment. Gives institutional permanence to China-Russia-Iran security alignment while providing cover for cautious participants. Represents genuine alternative security architecture outside Western-led system.

Historical Context

Non-Aligned Movement During Cold War

1961-1991

What Happened

Yugoslavia, India, Egypt, and dozens of newly independent nations formed the Non-Aligned Movement, refusing to pick sides between US and Soviet blocs. The movement claimed principled neutrality while many members accepted weapons and aid from both superpowers. Some, like India, tilted Soviet while maintaining non-aligned rhetoric. The tension between declared neutrality and actual partnerships mirrored today's contradictions.

Outcome

Short Term

NAM gave smaller nations diplomatic leverage, playing superpowers against each other for better terms on aid and trade.

Long Term

Collapsed with USSR. By 1990s, members abandoned pretense of equidistance, pursuing bilateral interests over bloc solidarity.

Why It's Relevant Today

South Africa inherited the ANC's Cold War-era alignment with Moscow while claiming post-apartheid non-alignment—the same rhetorical gap NAM members navigated.

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Military Exercises

2003-present

What Happened

China and Russia launched 'Peace Mission' joint exercises under SCO framework, inviting Central Asian members. Like BRICS naval drills, these were branded as multilateral operations but dominated by China-Russia bilateral cooperation. India joined SCO in 2017 but participates selectively in military activities, avoiding exercises that might conflict with Quad commitments. Pakistan participates more actively, using SCO military ties to balance US relationship.

Outcome

Short Term

Established pattern of China-Russia security coordination outside Western institutions, normalized as counter-terrorism cooperation.

Long Term

Created muscle memory for joint operations, but never evolved into formal alliance. Remains tool for diplomatic signaling more than warfighting integration.

Why It's Relevant Today

BRICS naval exercises follow the SCO model: loose multilateral branding masking China-Russia core, with selective participation from others based on their hedging strategies.

US Revocation of Thailand's Trade Benefits (1989)

1989-1990

What Happened

After Thailand failed to protect intellectual property rights adequately, the US suspended some Generalized System of Preferences benefits—a precursor to AGOA. Thailand faced economic pressure but didn't fundamentally change foreign policy orientation. It negotiated partial restoration while maintaining relationships with both Western and Asian partners. The episode showed that trade benefit revocation can sting without forcing wholesale realignment.

Outcome

Short Term

Some Thai exports lost competitive advantage; government made token reforms to restore benefits partially.

Long Term

Thailand continued hedging between US security partnership and growing Chinese economic relationship, proving trade tools don't determine strategic alignment.

Why It's Relevant Today

If US revokes South Africa's AGOA benefits over the naval exercises, history suggests short-term pain but not necessarily the policy reversal Washington seeks.