Chinese guided-missile destroyer Tangshan (Hull 122) is moored in False Bay, near Cape Town, South Africa on January 6, 2026. The Will For Peace 2026 exercise brings together navies from BRICS Plus countries for joint maritime safety operations, multiple foreign media reported. Photo: VCG

BRICS members are holding a joint maritime exercise near South Africa, the Chinese Defense Ministry announced on Friday. A Chinese expert noted that this marks the first such exercise under the BRICS framework, with key significance in safeguarding global maritime stability.

From early to mid-January, the "Will for Peace 2026" joint maritime exercise will be held in the sea and airspace near Simon's Town, South Africa, with BRICS members including China, Russia and South Africa taking part, according to a statement from China's Ministry of National Defense on Friday.  

The exercise will focus on joint actions to safeguard the security of key shipping lanes and economic activities, and will include drills such as counter-terrorism and hostage-rescue operations as well as maritime strike exercises. It will also feature professional and technical exchanges, naval vessel visits and mutual ship tours. The joint exercise aims to further deepen military exchanges and cooperation among the participating countries and enhance their collective capability to respond to maritime security threats, said the ministry.

The Chinese side's announcement came after the South African side announced on December 30 that a China led joint, interagency, inter-departmental, multinational exercise will be hosted in South African waters over period 09 -16 January 2026, according to the South African press release.

Exercise "Will for Peace 2026" brings together navies from BRICS Plus countries for an intensive program of joint maritime safety operations, interoperability drills and maritime protection serials, the press release said.

This is not the first time China, Russia and South Africa have conducted a joint exercise. In November 2019 and February 2023, the three countries held joint maritime exercises near South Africa, according to official media reports.

But the "Will for Peace 2026" seems to stand out as the first multilateral exercise under the BRICS framework, said Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert. He told the Global Times that the goal of the BRICS defense cooperation is to safeguard maritime trade route and sea lane security. The drill is expected to enable the participating militaries to familiarize themselves with the procedures of joint operations, enhance their interoperability, and boost maritime security cooperation.

It marks that BRICS members have stepped up promoting maritime cooperation, which is very important for the safeguarding of international maritime security and world peace, Zhang said.