Deputy Defence Minister Bantu Holomisa shrugged off criticism of South Africa hosting naval exercises with BRICS countries, asking, “What’s the big deal?”
Warships from some members of the BRICS group of developing nations gathered in Cape Town waters for a naval exercise that places host South Africa at risk of renewed US ire.
China will lead the Will for Peace 2026 drill, which runs from 9 to 16 January and will showcase the participants’ collective commitment to safeguard maritime trade routes “and deepen cooperation in support of peaceful maritime security,” the South African National Defence Force said in a statement.
It didn’t specify which other countries would be participating.
A Chinese destroyer docked in the Simon’s Town naval base on Wednesday, while pictures on social media this week showed a Russian frigate and a supply vessel making their way down Africa’s west coast toward the harbour.
The IRIS Makran, a massive Iranian forward base ship that serves as a floating logistics hub and operational command centre, was sighted near Simon’s Town on Thursday afternoon.
South Africa has been at loggerheads with the US since President Donald Trump returned to the White House almost a year ago.
Its ties to Iran are among the issues that have elicited anger in Washington, and the drill is likely to ignite further tension.
Many of the countries taking part in the drills have been characterised by the United States as its enemies and holding positions that go against American interests.
Despite presenting itself as non-aligned and friendly to BRICS and the West, South Africa has on more than one occasion been firmly grouped with countries seen as anti-American.
Pretoria also drew criticism from the US and the European Union when it last hosted a BRICS naval exercise in 2023 that coincided with the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s second-biggest political party, said the inclusion of Russia and Iran in the drill would undermine the government’s claims that it was non-aligned, and noted that it had cancelled joint military exercises with the US.
“South Africa’s defence and foreign policy must be transparent, constitutional, and principled, and certainly not be quietly reshaped through military exercises that contradict our stated neutrality and damage our standing in the world,” said Chris Hattingh, the DA’s spokesperson on defence.
Chrispin Phiri, a spokesman for South Africa’s foreign ministry, declined to comment and referred queries to the defence force.
What’s the big deal?
Deputy Defence Minister Bantu Holomisa shrugged off the controversy of the exercises, questioning why it is “such a big deal”.
He said that the SANDF engages in these types of exercises with “friendly countries” all the time, and that this is not the first time it is taking place.
“South Africa is part of BRICS, and many countries have joined the bloc. This whole thing was planned a long time ago, long before so-called ‘US interest’ was in play,” he said.
“We have our own interests, and we know that the South African Defence Force troops’ morale will be raised. It is an honour for them to practise with well-equipped countries in military terms.”
Holomisa said that the drills are in the interest of the Global South, and countries in the Northern Hemisphere have their own interests.
Speaking on conflicts with South Africa’s non-aligned status and tensions with the United States, Holomisa said the government is not concerned about the USA.
“They have their own mandates,” he said. “This exercise was planned long before the tensions (with the US) we are witnessing today.”
He added that president Cyril Ramaphosa and International Relations minister Ronald Lamola would be better-suited to speak on diplomatic matters, but acknowledged that discussions continue.
“What we know is that South Africa is talking to the USA. The same applies with the Russians, they are talking to the USA. The same with China, Iran. So what’s wrong? Why must South Africa be questioned?”
“The USA is engaging with all these countries; we are all members of the UN, so what’s the big deal?” he said.
Photos of warships arriving
With Bloomber. Images sources: SANDF
