The navies of China, Russia, and Iran concluded the Multinational Exercise Will for Peace 2026 in South Africa

The navies of China, Russia, and Iran concluded the Multinational Exercise Will for Peace 2026 following the closing ceremony held on January 16 in Simon’s Town, South Africa. The joint naval activity took place between January 9 and 16 and involved the participation of naval forces from BRICS+ member countries, under the leadership of China and with South Africa acting as the host nation.

The exercise focused on strengthening maritime cooperation and interoperability among the participating navies, within a context of regional security and the protection of strategic maritime routes.

Development of Exercise Will for Peace 2026

According to information from South Africa’s Department of Defence, the exercise was conducted in waters near the port of Simon’s Town, in Cape Town, and was conceived as an intensive program of joint maritime security operations.

The activities included naval interoperability exercises, maritime protection maneuvers, and coordinated operations among the different participating forces, together with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).

Objectives and focus of the multinational exercise

According to the official South African statement, the exercise’s motto was “joint actions to ensure the safety of maritime transportation and maritime economic activities.” This approach sought to reflect the shared commitment of the participating navies to protecting maritime trade routes and strengthening joint operational procedures.

“This theme reflects the collective commitment of all participating navies to safeguard maritime trade routes, enhance shared operational procedures, and deepen cooperation in support of peaceful maritime security initiatives,” the South African Department of Defence stated.

Activities conducted and exercise closure

Among the maneuvers carried out during the week of activities were counterterrorism rescue operations, simulated maritime attacks, professional technical exchanges, and ship visits. These actions were confirmed by China’s Ministry of Defence, which highlighted the level of operational coordination achieved during the exercise.

The closing ceremony was held on January 16 in Simon’s Town and marked the formal conclusion of the Multinational Exercise Will for Peace 2026, consolidating a new instance of naval cooperation among the participating navies within the BRICS+ framework and in support of strengthened regional maritime security.

*Images obtained from the Chinese Navy.

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