BRICS Holds a Maritime Exercise at the Indo-Atlantic Crossroads – Without India

Why It Matters

The drill demonstrates BRICS’ ambition to extend influence into defense, reshaping global security alignments, while India’s abstention underscores persistent China‑India friction that could limit bloc cohesion.

Key Takeaways

• BRICS conducts first joint maritime drill in South Africa
• China leads exercise; India abstains due to China rivalry
• U.S. criticizes drill, highlighting geopolitical tensions
• Eight BRICS members participated; Brazil, Egypt observed
• Exercise signals potential security cooperation beyond economic agenda

Pulse Analysis

The "Will for Peace 2026" naval exercise signals a strategic pivot for the BRICS coalition, traditionally known for economic coordination. By staging joint maritime safety operations in the Indo‑Atlantic crossroads, the bloc showcases its capacity to protect critical trade routes, a priority for member economies reliant on sea‑borne commerce. China’s leadership of the drill underscores its growing role in shaping BRICS security initiatives, while South Africa’s hosting reflects the group’s intent to project influence across both hemispheres.

India’s decision to sit out the exercise highlights the deep-rooted rivalry with China that continues to shape the bloc’s internal dynamics. As the current BRICS president, New Delhi’s abstention sends a diplomatic signal that security cooperation will not proceed without addressing bilateral tensions. This stance also aligns with India’s broader effort to balance relations with the United States, which has openly criticized BRICS’ security forays as anti‑Western. The absence of a founding member from a high‑profile drill raises questions about the feasibility of a unified defense agenda within the group.

External reactions, particularly from Washington, add another layer of complexity. U.S. officials have framed the maritime drill as a challenge to Western maritime dominance, especially given Iran’s participation. Such criticism may deter further institutionalization of BRICS security activities, but it also fuels the narrative of a multipolar world where emerging powers seek alternative security architectures. If BRICS can navigate internal rivalries and external pushback, its security collaborations could evolve into a credible counterweight to NATO‑led initiatives, reshaping maritime governance in the coming decade.

BRICS Holds a Maritime Exercise at the Indo-Atlantic Crossroads – Without India

By Vrinda Malik · January 27, 2026

Credit: South Africa National Defense Force

BRICS is a political and diplomatic coordination forum that supports economic, political, and social cooperation among its members. It consists of 10 members: founding members Brazil, China, India, Russia, and South Africa, along with five new members—Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, which joined in 2024‑25.

Along with its expansion, BRICS has emerged as a substantial alternative for Global South countries in international governance. It has become a major political force, building on its desire to create a counterweight to Western influence in major multilateral institutions. In recent times, BRICS has pushed for multilateralism amid heightened unilateralist and protectionist stances of the United States.

BRICS is now moving in a new direction, expanding for the first time into the security domain. The grouping conducted a joint maritime exercise codenamed “Will for Peace 2026” at the Port of Simon’s Town in South Africa, located at the Indo‑Atlantic crossroads. The joint maritime exercise was described as “joint actions to ensure the safety of key shipping lanes and maritime economic activities.”

The exercise took place from January 9 to 16 in the waters and airspace off Simon’s Town and consisted of two main phases: the port and shore operations and the sea phase. Led by China, with South Africa as host, it brought together navies from BRICS Plus countries for an intensive program of joint maritime safety operations, interoperability drills, and maritime protection serials.

The drill signaled cooperation among BRICS members on maritime security initiatives against threats in both oceans. This maritime exercise could be the beginning of a new era for BRICS, where security and defense initiatives could be undertaken together without coming into a formal alliance.

Will for Peace 2026 featured participation from BRICS members China, Russia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and South Africa. Several other members—Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, and Ethiopia—took part as observers. India decided not to participate in any capacity in the exercise.

India’s absence was notable – it is not only a founding member of BRICS but has taken over the BRICS presidency from Brazil this year. Explaining its decision, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that the Will for Peace 2026 naval exercise was entirely a South African initiative and not an official BRICS activity. India’s official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, in a press conference, explained India’s non‑participation by stating that the exercise involved only some BRICS members and was neither regular nor institutionalized within the bloc’s framework.

India’s decision not to participate can be seen as a refusal to be part of a security initiative led by China. India and China not only continuously compete for strategic dominance in the international and regional order, but they also have an ongoing border dispute. Beyond China, external reactions have also shaped India’s caution.

In addition, as India is already facing a rough patch in its relations with the United States, it does not want to escalate matters unnecessarily. U.S. reactions have been critical of BRICS initiatives. In 2025, the BRICS faced heavy backlash from U.S. President Donald Trump, who openly called the group anti‑American and accused it of pursuing policies to attack the dollar. This has intensified scrutiny of the group, and may have convinced India to steer clear of a security‑focused engagement with BRICS.

The United States has also viewed Iran’s participation in the maritime exercise critically, heavily criticizing South Africa for hosting Iranian ships for joint drills. This led the South African government to establish a Board of Inquiry to investigate the matter, after reports that South Africa’s president had ordered Iran not to take part.

The Will for Peace 2026 maritime exercise is a symbolic development toward the possibility of emerging security and defense cooperation within the BRICS forum. Of the 10 members, nine participated in some capacity. This expanding coalition has the capacity to shape the nature of international collaboration in a turbulent world. The intersection of economic and security cooperation within the grouping has the scope to become a strong alternative to Western‑influenced institutions that cater to Global South countries.

At the same time, the exercise revealed the internal and external constraints facing such ambitions. While the drill took the relatively anodyne goal of “joint actions to ensure the safety of key shipping lanes and maritime economic activities,” the initiative nevertheless generated political controversy and heavy criticism from the United States.

Ultimately, the enduring China‑India rivalry within the group remains the most significant obstacle, limiting BRICS’s ability to consolidate a unified security vision and to emerge as a cohesive force capable of shaping a new world order.