New Delhi, January 17 – India did not participate in the recent naval exercise held in Cape Town, South Africa, prompting questions about its involvement in multinational military drills. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that the event, dubbed ‘Exercise Will for Peace 2026,’ was entirely a South African initiative and not an official BRICS activity.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed media queries on Saturday, emphasizing that the drill involved select BRICS nations but lacked the institutional framework of regular BRICS engagements. ‘This was not a regular or institutionalized BRICS activity, and not all BRICS members took part. India has not participated in such standalone initiatives before,’ Jaiswal stated in a press release.
The exercise, conducted from January 9 to 16 in South African waters, featured navies from China, Russia, and South Africa, among others. China’s guided-missile destroyer Tangshan and supply ship Taihu joined Russian corvette Stoykiy and South African frigate Amatola for intensive drills on maritime strikes, anti-piracy operations, search and rescue, and formation maneuvers.
South Africa’s foreign ministry highlighted the theme: ‘Joint Actions to Ensure Security of Shipping and Maritime Economic Activities.’ The multinational effort aimed to enhance interoperability, protect vital trade routes, and foster peaceful maritime safety initiatives through coordinated naval actions.
Jaiswal pointed out India’s preference for established trilateral exercises like IBSAMAR, involving India, Brazil, and South Africa. The latest edition of IBSAMAR occurred in October 2024, underscoring India’s commitment to structured maritime cooperation.
This development comes amid growing scrutiny of BRICS naval collaborations, with questions arising over alignments in a geopolitically charged Indian Ocean region. India’s absence signals a deliberate choice to engage only in formalized platforms, maintaining strategic autonomy within the grouping.
As global powers ramp up maritime presence, such exercises highlight tensions and partnerships shaping sea lane security. India’s stance reinforces its focus on bilateral and trilateral ties over ad-hoc multilateral drills.