Warships from Iran and Russia have joined multinational naval drills off the coast of South Africa — part of a week-long maritime exercise with several other nations.
The exercises are taking place in South African waters near Cape Town and Simon’s Town, running from January 9 to 16, 2026.
These exercises highlight growing military cooperation among emerging global powers and reflect shifting dynamics in maritime security as countries seek to protect sea lanes and expand naval partnerships beyond traditional Western alliances.
The drills have drawn criticism from some domestic and international voices who argue that hosting Russian and Iranian military forces may undermine South Africa’s non-aligned stance and strain ties with the U.S..