"The multinational naval exercise 'Will for Peace 2026' formally got underway on Monday at Simon’s Town Naval Base, with participation from BRICS member states, comprising China, Russia, Iran, UAE and South Africa. Footage shows warships docked at the harbour, with the flags of BRICS member states flying from the vessels. Captain Nndwakhulu Thomas Thamaha, commander of the South African Navy’s Joint Task Force, said the current edition of the exercise is centred on joint operations to safeguard international trade routes. “The theme of the exercise is joint action to ensure the safety of shipping lanes and maritime economic activities. The exercise will focus on anti-piracy activities and other operations scheduled to take place during Phase C,” Thamaha said. Participating naval vessels began arriving at the strategically located base in South Africa on Saturday, ahead of the start of the operational phase. The 'BRICS Plus' joint naval drill, hosted by South Africa from January 9 to January 16, aims to strengthen naval partnerships, enhance collective maritime security and promote mutual understanding among participating nations."