An opening naval parade is scheduled for this Saturday, bringing together vessels from participating BRICS Plus countries at the Naval Base in Simon’s Town, South Africa (SA). 

The parade marks part of Exercise WILL FOR PEACE 2026, a joint maritime operation involving navies from SA, Russia, China and Iran. The exercise began on Wednesday and will continue until Friday next week. 

SA’s Department of Defence says the exercise is guided by the theme “Joint Actions to Ensure the Safety of Shipping and Maritime Economic Activities.” According to the department, the theme reflects a shared commitment by the participating countries to protect maritime trade routes, improve coordination at sea and strengthen cooperation in support of peaceful maritime security. 

Defence officials say the exercise will focus on improving how the navies work together and refining joint operational procedures to address common maritime challenges. 

Simon’s Town, located near Cape Town in SA, is one of the country’s main naval bases and sits along a key international shipping route. 

–ChannelAfrica–