Russia Joins China and Iran in South Africa Naval Drills

Email:online@newsofbahrain.com

Cape Town: Chinese, Russian and Iranian war ships have arrived in the territorial waters off Cape Town, South Africa for a week of naval drills. The drills scheduled to run from January 9 to 16, are part of wider cooperation among BRICS Plus nations and are officially focused on enhancing maritime safety, joint operations and the protection of shipping routes.

The arrival of the foreign warships including a Russian corvette, Chinese destroyer and replenishment ship, and Iran’s large naval vessel has drawn international and domestic attention amid heightened geopolitical tensions. South African authorities say the exercises were planned well in advance and are aimed at strengthening cooperation for maritime security, but critics argue the participation of Russia and Iran, both subject to sanctions from Western powers, risks aligning Pretoria with states at odds with the United States and its allies.

Relations between South Africa and Washington have been strained recently over a range of issues, including U.S. military actions in Venezuela and Pretoria’s foreign policy positions. The naval drills, coming shortly after renewed controversy over U.S. seizures of vessels and intervention in the region, may further complicate ties with the United States, which has criticised South Africa’s engagement with Russia and other adversarial states. Nonetheless, South African officials maintain that the exercise underscores a commitment to peaceful maritime cooperation and shared security interests among emerging global powers.