In light of activities related to South Africa’s G20 Presidency, the Department of Defence is engaging on the postponement of the joint naval exercise between South Africa, Russia and China, which was planned for November 2025.
This exercise, hosted this year by the People’s Republic of China, represents the third iteration of the biennial trilateral exercise between the BRICS partners.
In consultation with the Presidency and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), the Department of Defence is in discussions with its counterparts in China on moving the exercise to a mutually suitable date. This is to ensure that the exercise does not impact on the logistical, security and other requirements associated with South Africa’s hosting of the G20 Presidency.
South Africa’s participation in exercises of this nature forms part of strengthening both multilateral and bilateral relations. As in the past, the SANDF continues to conduct joint and multinational military exercises with a wide range of partners. In recent years, these have included Brazil, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States.
