Chinese, Russian and Iranian warships arrive for drills in South Africa

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by By News AgenciesJanuary 9, 2026 at 05:24 PM

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Chinese, Russian, and Iranian warships have arrived in South Africa on January 9, 2026, for a week of joint naval drills. The exercises, commencing with an opening ceremony on Saturday, are intended to safeguard vital shipping lanes and economic activities. The drills will include strikes on maritime targets and counter-terrorism rescues. These exercises are taking place near South Africa's top naval base in Simon's Town. The South African defense force stated the event will allow navies to exchange best practices and improve joint operational capabilities. The exercises occur amid heightened geopolitical tensions following US military intervention in Venezuela and seizures of oil tankers.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Atlantic Ocean 40% Indian Ocean 40% Cape Town ×250% BRICS 50% Simon's Town ×260% Nicolas Maduro (Maduro) 60% Iran ×270% Venezuela 70% China ×380% United States 80% Russia ×280% South Africa ×490%

Keywords

naval drills 100% geopolitical tensions 90% south africa 80% shipping lanes 70% maritime stability 60% military intervention 60% counter-terrorism 50% venezuela 50% oil tankers 50% joint operations 40%