Aljazeera published on 11 January 2026 an article titled "BRICS Wargames: Why They Matter, Why India Opted Out" by Yasraj Sharma.
Weeklong naval drills involving BRICS' members China, Russia, Iran, and the UAE opened in the waters off South Africa. China and Iran sent destroyers, Russia and the UAE sent corvettes, and South Africa deployed a mid-sized frigate. Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, and Ethiopia joined the drills as observers. India chose not to participate. The Trump administration accused some BRICS members of pursuing anti-American policies.
