China's Vice President Visits South Africa, Strengthens Security Ties

 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.

Naval Exercise Splits BRICS

 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.  

US Condemns Iranian Participation in South African Naval Exercise

 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.

Iranian Naval Vessels Withdraw from South African BRICS Exercise

 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.  

South Africa Schedules Joint Naval Drill with China and Russia

 Pravda published on 2 September 2025 an article titled "South Africa to Hold Joint Naval Drills with Russia and China During G20 Summit" by Anton Kulikov.

The South African National Defence Force will conduct the third stage of the MOSI joint naval exercise with Russia and China in November this year to coincide with the G-20 summit hosted by South Africa.  

Lessons Learned from Russia/China/South Africa Naval Exercise

 The New Atlanticist published on 28 February 2023 an analysis titled "What We Learned from the Russia-China-South Africa Military Drills" by Atlantic Council experts.

The February naval exercise off South Africa enabled South Africa to demonstrate its independent foreign policy, Russia to highlight its continued relations with nations of the Global South, and China to demonstrate the increasing global reach of its navy.  

Analysis of South Africa/Russia/China Joint Naval Exercise

 European Security & Defence published on 3 March 2023 an article titled "'Mosi II' Naval Exercise Concluded, But Ramifications Continue" by Hans Uwe Mergener.

South African, Russian, and Chinese navies held a joint exercise off Cape Town that ended on 27 February.  South Africa deployed only a single frigate, giving some indication of the South African Navy's current operational capability.  The exercise demonstrated that Western efforts to isolate Russia are not resonating in the Global South.  It was also an indication of China's growing naval presence in the Indian Ocean that may impact the strategic balance in Africa.

Request for Positive Coverage of South African/Russian/Chinese Naval Exercise Elicits Laughter

 The Daily Maverick published on 23 February 2023 an article titled "Media Laugh Off Request by SANDF Commander to Put Positive Spin on Mosi II Naval Exercise" by Des Erasmus.

At a press briefing, the commander of the South African National Defense Forces (SANDF) asked journalists to comment positively about the South African/Russian/Chinese naval exercise underway in the waters off South Africa on the one year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.  Some of the media responded with laughs of disapproval as South Africa struggles to maintain its neutrality over the war.  

Is South Africa Slowly Slipping into Russia/China Orbit?

 Defence Web published on 7 February 2023 an article titled "SANDF Declined Exercises with US, but Proceeding with Russia and China" by Guy Martin.

Later this month the South African National Defense Force (SANDF)  will participate in a naval exercise with Russian and Chinese ships on the one year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.  The United States has recently invited the SANDF to participate in naval exercises in both West and East Africa, but it reportedly has shown no interest.  

US Expresses Concern over South Africa's Naval Exercise with Russia and China

 CBS News published on 25 January 2023 a story titled "U.S. 'Concerned' as South Africa to Hold War Games with Russia, China on Ukraine Invasion Anniversary" by Sarah Carter.  

The United States has expressed concern over the South Africa/Russia/China naval exercise from 17-27 February in South African waters on the one year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.  U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen arrived in South Africa this week to discuss trade, energy, and health issues.    

Russia/China Naval Exercise Off South Africa Faces Growing Criticism

 The Daily Maverick published on 19 January 2023 a commentary titled "'Insensitive' SANDF to Plough Ahead with Joint Maritime Exercise with Russia and China" by Peter Fabricius.

The South African National Defense Force is hosting from 17-27 February a naval exercise with ships from Russia and China on the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.  The exercise has come under strong criticism by South Africa's opposition Democratic Alliance.