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India and Brazil – both BRICS members, opted out of the drills which kicked off near the South African coast.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. (PTI file photo)
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday clarified India’s non-participation in the so-called ‘BRICS Naval Exercise’, saying that it was not a regular or institutionalised BRICS activity, nor did all BRICS members take part in it.
While responding to media queries regarding the non-participation in the naval exercise, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the so-called ‘BRICS Naval Exercise’ was entirely a South African initiative in which some BRICS members took part.
“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,” Jaiswal said in a statement.
He further said that New Delhi has not participated in previous such activities.
“India has not participated in previous such activities. 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,” he added.
BRICS Naval Exercise
Joint naval drills involving several members of the BRICS bloc, including China, Russia and Iran, have kicked off near South Africa’s coast with South Africa describing the manoeuvres as a vital response to rising maritime tensions globally, reported Al-Jazeera.
India and Brazil, both BRICS members, opted out of the drills which kicked off near the South African coast.
The drills involving warships from the participating countries come amid frayed ties between South Africa and the US. Washington sees the bloc as an economic threat.
January 17, 2026, 15:40 IST
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