New Delhi: India has clarified that the recently concluded naval exercise held in Cape Town was not a formal or institutionalised BRICS activity, but a South African initiative in which only some BRICS members participated.

Responding to media queries on India’s non-participation in Exercise Will For Peace 2026, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the exercise did not involve all BRICS countries and should not be described as a BRICS naval drill.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “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.”

He added that India has not taken part in similar exercises in the past. “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. The last edition of IBSAMAR was held in October 2024,” Jaiswal said.

According to South Africa’s defence ministry, the China-led joint, inter-agency and multinational exercise was hosted in South African waters from 9 to 16 January. The exercise involved navies from certain BRICS Plus countries.

In a statement issued on 30 December, the South African government said: “Exercise WILL FOR PEACE 2026 brings together navies from BRICS Plus countries for an intensive programme of joint maritime safety operations, interoperability drills and maritime protection serials.”

The exercise theme was “Joint Actions to Ensure the Safety of Shipping and Maritime Economic Activities”, reflecting a shared focus on maritime trade security and cooperation.

China’s Defence Ministry said the People’s Liberation Army Navy participated with the guided-missile destroyer Tangshan and the comprehensive supply ship Taihu, alongside vessels including Russia’s corvette Stoikiy and South Africa’s frigate Amatola.

It added: “During navigation, under the command of the Chinese side, the participating naval vessels manoeuvred in the single line ahead formation and conducted formation changes as planned.”

The drills included maritime strike operations, rescue of hijacked vessels, joint search and rescue, communications, anchorage defence and air defence exercises.

India’s clarification comes amid commentary linking the Cape Town exercise to BRICS cooperation, a characterisation New Delhi has firmly rejected.

— IANS