The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace published on 3 September 2026 a commentary titled "The Two Key Takeaways from Xi's Egypt Visit" by Amr Hamzawy.
The author concluded that "China's influence in the Middle East is on the rise, and Egypt's international partnerships amid regional turmoil in the Middle East are growing. Those are the two key takeaways of Xi's visit to Egypt."
The South African Institute of International Affairs recently posted a 16-minute podcast titled "South Africa and Russia: It's Complicated."
The Russia-China relationship generates uncomfortable headlines today. It is based on the strong anti-apartheid position of the Soviet Union. In addition, Vladimir Putin and former South African President Jacob Zuma solidified the ties.
Russia's invasion of Georgia, Crimea, and Ukraine complicated the relationship. South Africa fell back on a policy of non-alignment. By 2022, there was confusion in Pretoria concerning policy towards Russia.
Today, South Africa-Russia trade is negligible and Russian investment in the country is modest. South Africa and Russia, both members of BRICS, agree on the need to revise the world order but not much else.
CNBC published on 17 July 2026 an article titled "Xi Pitches China as AI Partner to Developing World, Warns Against Risks and Security Overreach" by Lim Hui Jie.
China is reaching out to various blocs of nations in the Global South to build partnerships concerning AI. The blocs include ASEAN, African Union, League of Arab States, and the BRICS.
Aljazeera published on 17 July 2026 an article titled "China's Xi Jinping Launches New AI Alliance: What Is It?"
Beijing is casting itself as a leader of the global AI order, challenging the position of the United States. China announced last week a coalition of 29 nations called the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) with a headquarters in Shanghai. Founding members include South Africa and Senegal.
In the meantime, Washington is retreating from global cyber and AI norms-setting processes and withdrawing its financial backing for cyber diplomacy more broadly.
Rare Earth Exchanges published on 17 May 2026 an article titled "Africa Has Become the New Geopolitical Battleground for Critical Minerals."
The article summarizes a study that examines trade flows, foreign direct investment, military relationships, diplomatic agreements, mining policy, and strategic industrial initiatives shaping Africa's critical minerals economy. It evaluates how China, Russia, the United States, and Europe are accessing and responding to Africa's critical mineral wealth.
The entire study "In the Crosshairs: Twenty-first-century Rivalry for Africa's Critical Minerals" by Ron Matthews and Vlado Vivoda was published online on 11 May 2026 by the European Journal of International Security.
The Intel Drop posted on 31 March 2026 an article titled "Russia-Africa Summit: Russia's New Chapter on Africa Trade and Economic Collaboration" by Kester Kenn Klomegah.
If Russia intends to be a major player in Africa, it must open Russia to imports from Africa and increase significantly Russian foreign direct investment in the continent. Otherwise, it will increasingly fall behind the economic engagement efforts of China, the United States, and India.
Otto's Journal, a digital news publication based in New York, posted on 22 March 2026 an article titled "South Africa and China Strengthen Security Ties in 2026 Pretoria Summit" by Thabiso Mkhwanazi.
South Africa welcomed Chinese Vice President Han Zheng where discussions are expected to prioritize bilateral security cooperation, implementation of the 15th Five-Year Plan, and South Africa's evolving role in a multipolar world as Pretoria navigates a complex relationship with the United States and deepens its ties with BRICS countries.
Aljazeera published on 5 March 2026 an article titled "'Our Children Were Sold Off': The South Africans Sent to Fight Russia's War" by Chris Makhaye.
Russia recruited South Africans to become VIP bodyguards who were then given brief military training and conscripted by a paramilitary group to fight in Ukraine. Most of the South Africans became cannon fodder on the Russian front lines. An appeal by South Africa's president to Vladimir Putin managed to get their return to their families.
The African Mirror published on 7 February 2026 an article titled "China-South Africa Trade Pact Signals Deepening BRICS Economic Integration."
BRICS membership allows member states to negotiate advantageous bilateral arrangements as China and South Africa are doing in the face of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration and Western trade barriers.
The African Center for Strategic Studies published on 30 January 2026 a paper titled "China's Military Footprint in Africa Deepens with People's Liberation Army-led BRICS Naval Drills" by Paul Nantulya.
The January 2026 BRICS Plus naval exercise in South African waters led by China's People's Liberation Army underscored Beijing's use of military power in Africa to advance Chinese geostrategic objectives. China views BRICS Plus as part of an alternative global security and geopolitical architecture intended to counterbalance Western and US-led initiatives.
Beijing has invested heavily in securing African participation in Chinese-led global initiatives to enhance its legitimacy, build regional voting blocs, and strengthen China's leverage amid global rivalries. It accomplishes this through military exercises, naval port calls, creating security architecture, arms sales, and military training.
The Diplomat published on 27 January 2026 a commentary titled "BRICS Holds a Maritime Exercise at the Indo-Atlantic Crossroads - Without India" by Vrinda Malik, University of Delhi.
The BRICS--China, India, Russia, Brazil, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the UAE--held a maritime exercise in South African waters in January. This was the first time the BRICS expanded into the security domain.
India was the only member to totally absent itself from the naval exercise, suggesting a refusal to be part of a security exercise led by China. Enduring China-India rivalry limits the BRICS' ability to emerge as a cohesive force capable of shaping a new world order.
Aljazeera published on 23 January 2026 an article titled "Why Is South Africa Upset about Iran Joining BRICS Naval Drills?" by Shola Lawal.
A BRICS naval exercise in South Africa that included 3 warships from Iran as its government crushed protestors at home sparked a sharp rebuke from the United States, prompted internal debates in South Africa, and caused India to point out that BRICS was not established to host war games.
Armada International posted on 20 January 2026 an article titled "China and Russia in BRICS Naval Exercise Hosted by South Africa -- Iran Drops Out" by David Oliver.
South Africa hosted from 9 to 16 January a naval exercise for BRICS member states. China and Russia sent warships that participated. Iran sent three ships but was asked to drop out after their arrival. The UAE sent a naval vessel that did not participate. Brazil and India chose not to send ships.
The ships that participated conducted drills on communication, formation maneuver, maritime strike, hijacked vessel rescue, helicopter-borne casualty transfer and treatment.
Comment: If one of the goals of the BRICS is to create a military alliance, this event did not offer a good omen.
The Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies published on 16 January 2026 a policy brief titled "South Africa Eyes Confrontation with Trump over Growing Ties to China, Russia, Iran" by Max Meizlish and Daniel Swift.
South Africa's ANC-led government is testing the limits of cordial relations with the Trump administration by strengthening its ties with China, Russia, and Iran.
Newsweek published on 16 January 2026 an article titled "US Issues Strong Statement on China-led Naval Drills with Iran" by Micah McCartney.
Three Iranian warships--a corvette and two converted tankers--arrived in South Africa for the BRICS' naval exercise involving ships from South Africa, China, Russia, and the UAE.
The US embassy in Pretoria issued a statement that "it is particularly unconscionable that South Africa welcomed Iranian security forces as they were shooting, jailing, and torturing Iranian citizens engaging in peaceful political activity South Africans fought so hard to gain for themselves."
The South African government apparently asked the Iranians to keep the ships in the harbor and only participate in the naval exercise as observers.
The Daily Maverick published on 12 January 2026 an article titled "Iran Pulls Out of SA's Joint Naval Exercise Amid Political Tensions" by Peter Fabricius.
Three Iranian naval vessels joined warships from South Africa, China, Russia, and the UAE in Simon's Town, South Africa, to participate in a weeklong BRICS' naval exercise. The Iranian vessels will not, however, join the others as the exercise gets underway. Pretoria reportedly urged Iran to withdraw from the exercise to avoid antagonizing the United States.
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.
Defence Web published on 30 December 2025 an article titled "Multinational Naval Exercise between SA, Iran, China, and Russia Scheduled for January" by Guy Martin.
South Africa will host a naval exercise between 9 and 16 January for naval vessels from China, Russia, and Iran. The exercise will include joint maritime safety operations, interoperability drills, and maritime protection serials. This is the first time Iran will be included in the exercise. As South Africa increases its military contacts with these three countries, it is reducing them with the United States.
Stimson published on 20 November 2025 a commentary titled "Trump's Critical Minerals Search in Africa Won't Tip the Scales Against China" by Mathew Burrows and Benjamin Weise.
As the United States pulls back from Africa and narrows its interest to the extraction of critical minerals, China and Russia are expanding their engagement on the continent.
The Atlantic Council published in November 2025 a study titled "China's Economic Slowdown and Spillovers to Africa" by Matthew Mingey, Jeremy Smith, and Laura Gormley.
This report investigates how different projections of China's economic growth and structure over the next five years will affect trade and financial engagement with the African continent and what outcomes will mean for decision-makers.
The best long-term outcome for Africa is likely one in which China accepts the cost of reform to implement slower, but more stable growth. While countries could previously envision the net benefits of close trading relationships with China in 2030, trade now presents both opportunity and threat: opportunity in the form of cheap imports but complication in the form of persistent trade imbalances and overcapacity in manufacturing. Under any growth scenario, finance from China's banks and investors will continue to decline as China's domestic financial system evolves.
Independent Online published on 14 November 2025 an article titled "'What Snub?' Analyst Dismisses Claims China Is Snubbing South Africa over President Xi's G20 Absence" by Jonisayi Maromo.
China's President Xi Jinping will not attend the G-20 summit in Johannesburg this month. Vice President Li Qiang will represent Beijing, which expressed strong support for both the summit and South Africa's leadership of the organization this year. Unlike the United States, which is boycotting the summit, China insists that this decision does not constitute a snub of South Africa.
