The exercise, dubbed Exercise WILL FOR PEACE 2026, started on Friday and will run until January 16. It focuses on maritime safety operations, interoperability drills and maritime protection serials, bringing together naval assets and personnel from participating countries.
The theme of the exercise, Joint actions to ensure the safety of shipping and maritime economic activities, underscores a shared commitment to safeguarding critical maritime trade routes and promoting stability at sea.
According to SA’s Department of Defence and Military Veterans, the participating nations agree that the exercise reflects their collective intention to enhance shared operational procedures and deepen cooperation in support of peaceful maritime security initiatives.
SA waters are regarded as strategically important due to their proximity to key global shipping lanes linking the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Maritime security in this region is critical for international trade, energy supplies and economic activity, particularly for African economies that rely heavily on seaborne commerce.
The joint drills are expected to include coordinated patrols, communication exercises and scenario-based operations designed to improve coordination and response capabilities among the participating navies. These activities are aimed at building trust, improving tactical compatibility and ensuring a collective ability to respond to maritime threats such as piracy, trafficking and disruptions to commercial shipping.
Exercise WILL FOR PEACE 2026 forms part of broader defence co-operation among BRICS Plus countries, as they seek to expand collaboration beyond economic and political engagement into the security domain, with an emphasis on stability, cooperation and respect for international maritime norms.
–SABC/ChannelAfrica–
