Pretoria, Sketsa.id – Where the Indian Ocean meets the Atlantic, a collective message is being sent to the world. A joint naval exercise by BRICS nations, codenamed “Will for Peace 2026,” officially commenced in Simon’s Town, South Africa, on Saturday (10/1/2026). The week-long drill is framed by the host nation as a crucial response to rising global maritime tensions.

Led by China, the exercise involves warships from several bloc members, including Russia and Iran. Current BRICS chair South Africa deployed a frigate, while China and Iran sent destroyers, and Russia and the United Arab Emirates deployed corvettes. Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, and Ethiopia are participating as observers.

“This is more than a military exercise. It is a statement of intent among the BRICS family of nations,” said South African Joint Task Force Commander Captain Nndwakhulu Thomas Thamaha at the opening ceremony. He emphasized that in an increasingly complex maritime environment, such cooperation “is not an option. It is essential.”

The South African Department of Defence stated the exercise reflects a “collective commitment… to protect maritime trade routes, enhance joint operational procedures, and deepen cooperation in support of peaceful maritime security initiatives.”

Notable Absences and Geopolitical Backdrop

The drill’s composition and timing are highly symbolic. Two founding BRICS members, India and Brazil, chose not to send naval assets, with Brazil attending only as an observer. This absence highlights internal divergences within the bloc, which is primarily an economic partnership.

Analyst Harsh Pant of New Delhi’s Observer Research Foundation noted India’s choice was about “balancing its relations with the US.” He added, “India would also be uncomfortable with the gradual evolution of BRICS’ fundamental nature,” away from its economic focus.

The exercise occurs against a backdrop of sharp geopolitical friction, just days after the US seized a Russian oil tanker linked to Venezuela and following Washington’s military intervention in Caracas. The Trump administration has also levied threats and tariffs against several BRICS nations.

A ‘BRICS Plus’ Posture Against Unilateralism

Branded a “BRICS Plus” operation, the drill aims to enhance cooperation beyond the core membership. It is seen as a direct move to strengthen collective security posture amidst what member states view as unilateral US actions.

“For China, Russia, Iran, and to an extent South Africa, this joint military exercise helps [the narrative] of positioning themselves against the US at this moment in time,” Pant told Al Jazeera.

As warships maneuver off the Cape of Good Hope, “Will for Peace 2026” serves less as a routine drill and more as a strategic signal: a significant part of the Global South is forging its own coordinated path in defense and security, challenging the existing world order. (*)