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The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday, January 17, clarified that India did not participate in the recent ‘BRICS Naval Exercise’ as it was a South Africa-led initiative rather than an institutionalised BRICS activity.
In response to media queries related to India's non-participation in the recently concluded naval exercise in Cape Town, the MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted that the event was ‘entirely a South African’ initiative.
While emphasising that it was not inclusive of all BRICS members, the spokesperson said that India has historically ‘refrained from such specific activities’.
“We clarify that the exercise in question was entirely a South African initiative in which some BRICS members took part. It was not a regular or institutionalised BRICS activity, nor did all BRICS members take part in it. India has not participated in previous such activities,” Jaiswal said.
“The regular exercise that India is a part of in this context is the IBSAMAR maritime exercise that brings together the navies of India, Brazil and South Africa,” he added.
The last edition of IBSAMAR was successfully concluded in October 2024 at Simon's Town, South Africa.
However, according to Harsh Pant, a geopolitical analyst at the New Delhi-based think tank Observer Research Foundation, opting out of the exercise is “about balancing ties with the US”.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Pant stated that the joint military drill "helps [a narrative] about positioning themselves vis-a-vis the US at this juncture" for China, Russia, Iran, and, to some extent, South Africa.
“India would prefer not to be tagged in the BRICS wargames. This is not really something that India can take forward, both pragmatically and normatively.”
The week of joint naval exercises "Will for Peace 2026" began on Saturday, January 10, at the Port of Simon's Town in Cape Town, South Africa, with participation from BRICS members China, Russia, and South Africa.
According to the Ministry of National Defensc People's Republic of China, the exercise was set under the theme of "Joint Actions to Ensure the Safety of Key Shipping Lanes and Maritime Economic Activities".
"Exercise WILL FOR PEACE 2026 brings together navies from BRICS Plus countries for ... joint maritime safety operations (and) interoperability drills," according to South Africa's military, Reuters reported.
The BRICS nations include Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Currently, South Africa is serving as chair. However, the two founding members of the BRICS alliance - India and Brazil - opted out of the naval drills.
As per the official release, the naval exercise was scheduled from January 9 to January 16 in the waters and airspace off Simon's Town, comprising two phases.
In response to media queries related to India's non-participation in the recently concluded naval exercise in Cape Town, the MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted that the event was ‘entirely a South African’ initiative.
While emphasising that it was not inclusive of all BRICS members, the spokesperson said that India has historically ‘refrained from such specific activities’.
“We clarify that the exercise in question was entirely a South African initiative in which some BRICS members took part. It was not a regular or institutionalised BRICS activity, nor did all BRICS members take part in it. India has not participated in previous such activities,” Jaiswal said.
Our
response to media queries regarding comments relating to India’s non-participation in a so-called ‘BRICS Naval Exercise’ ⬇️
???? https://t.co/OLcWvHDLCm pic.twitter.com/Hbc5ZhwFCf
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) January 17, 2026
“The regular exercise that India is a part of in this context is the IBSAMAR maritime exercise that brings together the navies of India, Brazil and South Africa,” he added.
The last edition of IBSAMAR was successfully concluded in October 2024 at Simon's Town, South Africa.
However, according to Harsh Pant, a geopolitical analyst at the New Delhi-based think tank Observer Research Foundation, opting out of the exercise is “about balancing ties with the US”.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Pant stated that the joint military drill "helps [a narrative] about positioning themselves vis-a-vis the US at this juncture" for China, Russia, Iran, and, to some extent, South Africa.
“India would prefer not to be tagged in the BRICS wargames. This is not really something that India can take forward, both pragmatically and normatively.”
The week of joint naval exercises "Will for Peace 2026" began on Saturday, January 10, at the Port of Simon's Town in Cape Town, South Africa, with participation from BRICS members China, Russia, and South Africa.
According to the Ministry of National Defensc People's Republic of China, the exercise was set under the theme of "Joint Actions to Ensure the Safety of Key Shipping Lanes and Maritime Economic Activities".
"Exercise WILL FOR PEACE 2026 brings together navies from BRICS Plus countries for ... joint maritime safety operations (and) interoperability drills," according to South Africa's military, Reuters reported.
The BRICS nations include Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Currently, South Africa is serving as chair. However, the two founding members of the BRICS alliance - India and Brazil - opted out of the naval drills.
As per the official release, the naval exercise was scheduled from January 9 to January 16 in the waters and airspace off Simon's Town, comprising two phases.
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