Indias decision to opt out of BRICS wargames explained

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South Africa hosts BRICS naval exercises with China and Russia participating. India and Brazil opt out amid tensions with the US.

The weeklong Will for Peace 2026 exercises began on Saturday near South Africa’s coast, where the Indian Ocean meets the Atlantic Ocean. The drills are being led by China in Simon’s Town. Participating countries include warships from China, Russia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and South Africa. India and Brazil will not be participating.

China’s Ministry of National Defence stated that the drills will include rescue and maritime strike operations, as well as technical exchanges. The exercises are aimed at enhancing cooperation among participating navies to safeguard maritime trade routes and deepen peaceful maritime security initiatives.

South African officials described the drills as a BRICS Plus operation, which enables the bloc to engage with additional countries beyond its core members. All members of the bloc were invited to participate in the exercise. Iran joined the group in 2024, while Egypt, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE have also been added.

The exercises come amid heightened geopolitical tensions. The US has seized a Venezuelan-linked Russian oil tanker in the North Atlantic, citing violations of Western sanctions. This follows a US military operation that abducted President Nicolas Maduro from Venezuela. The Trump administration has threatened military action against countries such as Cuba, Colombia, and Iran, and imposed tariffs on India.

The BRICS acronym stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The bloc’s current chair is South Africa. The Will for Peace 2026 exercises are the latest in a series of naval drills involving BRICS members.

Source: Al Jazeera