China, Russia and Iran kicked off a week‑long joint naval drill, “Will for Peace 2026,” in South African waters, billed as a BRICS Plus maritime safety operation even as tensions with the U.S. spike over Washington’s recent oil tanker seizures. The exercise, led by China and observed by Brazil, Egypt and Ethiopia, showcases growing naval coordination within and around the expanded bloc, widely seen as a counterweight to U.S. influence. The war games come days after U.S. forces captured multiple tankers, including Olina and the Russian‑flagged Marinera, prompting sharp condemnation and warnings from Moscow and Beijing.