Warships from some members of the BRICS group of developing nations gathered in Cape Town waters for a naval exercise that places host South Africa at risk of renewed US ire.
China will lead the Will for Peace 2026 drill, which runs from Jan. 9 to Jan. 16 and will showcase the participants’ collective commitment to safeguard maritime trade routes “and deepen cooperation in support of peaceful maritime security,” the South African National Defence Force said in a statement. It didn’t specify which other countries will be participating, with a media conference scheduled for Friday.