Chinese, Russian and Iranian warships launched a week of naval drills with host South Africa off the Cape Town coast Friday as geopolitical tensions run high over the United States’ intervention in Venezuela and its move to seize tankers carrying Venezuelan oil.
The Chinese-led drills were organized last year under the BRICS bloc of developing nations and South Africa’s armed forces said the maneuvers will practice maritime safety and anti-piracy operations and “deepen cooperation.”
China, Russia and South Africa are longtime members of BRICS, while Iran joined the group in 2024.
The Iranian navy was taking part in the drills while protests grow back home against the Islamic Republic’s leadership.
It was not immediately clear if other countries from the BRICS group — which also includes Brazil, India and the United Arab Emirates among others — would take part in the drills.
A spokesperson for the South African armed forces said he wasn’t yet able to confirm
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