The exercises draw together several nations feuding with the US administration and come at a time of heightened tensions following Washington's raid on Venezuela. AFP journalists near the Simon's Town base saw the Russian-flagged corvette vessel pull into False Bay. - Global tensions -Washington this week seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker it said was part of a shadow fleet that carried oil for countries such as Venezuela, Russia and Iran. The joint drills were initially scheduled for November 2025 but were postponed due to a clash with the G20 summit in Johannesburg. Washington boycotted the summit amid a row with Pretoria that includes anger over its ties with Russia and Iran.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha January 09, 2026 12:24 UTC