China leads naval exercises in South Africa with the involvement of Iran and Russia
China is a very important player on the international stage. The Asian giant has been positioning itself geopolitically for decades and today looks the United States, the world's great beacon since the end of the Second World War and the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), in the eye.
At this point, one of the aspects that every world power takes care of is the military, and China has always displayed its great military power, especially to counter the pre-eminent military position of the United States.
Naval exercises in South Africa
Further proof of this are the new military exercises led by China in South Africa with the participation of Russia and Iran, two countries that also have a say on the international stage. In its case, Russia is also seeking to re-establish itself geopolitically as a power after the end of the USSR, as evidenced by its invasion of Ukraine, while Iran is constantly showing its animosity towards the United States, which it considers an enemy country along with Israel.
In this regard, China is leading the naval exercises called ‘Will of Peace’, which will take place between 9 and 16 January.
According to the AFP news agency, Chinese and Iranian warships docked at South Africa's main naval base to conduct military exercises that will last a week. AFP also reported that Russia was also sought to be integrated into these naval military manoeuvres.
These naval exercises come at a time of heightened international political tension, with the United States pursuing an expansionist policy around the world with its recent intervention in Venezuela against President Nicolás Maduro and its aspirations to control the Danish island of Greenland for security reasons and to take action against Colombia and Mexico, countries singled out for drug trafficking. In response to this interventionist stance, nations such as China and Russia, with contributions from other less relevant countries such as India and Iran, are proposing a multipolar world in which there are several decision-making centres rather than a single, overwhelming leadership by the United States.
And China's naval manoeuvres in South Africa are yet another example of the moves by countries of this type to send messages. The AFP news agency reported that two Chinese ships recently arrived at the port of False Bay in Cape Town, and on Thursday they were joined by an Iranian ship.
South African Navy officials said Russian warships were also expected to participate in the Chinese-led exercises.
According to South African defence sources, the exercise is related to ‘maritime transport security and maritime economic activities’.
The official statement said the aim is to ‘deepen cooperation in support of peaceful maritime security initiatives’, noting that it will include naval forces from the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).
The joint exercises were scheduled for November 2025 but were postponed due to a scheduling conflict with the G20 summit in Johannesburg.
South Africa's cooperation with Russia and China is not new and has been criticised by the West for these ties, particularly for its relations with Russia, which has been invading neighbouring Ukraine since February 2022. South Africa already participated in other naval exercises with Russia and China in 2023 and has been cooperating in this area since 2019, so the collaboration has been established for years.
Global alert
These moves are not well regarded in the West, especially in the United States.
There is a global alert due to the escalating tension, especially with the involvement of countries such as Russia, which is currently engaged in military aggression against Ukraine, and the Islamic Republic of Iran, a nation accused of destabilising the Middle East and interfering in the internal affairs of other neighbouring nations.