- India declined to join a BRICS naval exercise off Durban, South Africa, citing political concerns tied to tensions with China.
- The drill included vessels from Russia, China, Iran and South Africa, notably the Russian destroyer Marshal Shaposhnikov.
- Indian officials said the absence was a deliberate political choice rather than a scheduling issue.
- India is taking expanded maritime roles elsewhere, including leading training for the Bahrain-based Combined Maritime Force and the training capsule of Combined Task Force 154.
- Analysts and officials—such as Helmoed Heitman, Dean Wingrin, and Chris Hattingh—highlight political and strategic risks when China participates in Indian Ocean drills.
India skipped a BRICS naval exercise that began last week off Durban, South Africa, after being invited by the host. Officials said the decision reflected political concerns over China’s participation and tensions between the two countries, not scheduling conflicts.
The multilateral drill featured heavy equipment, including the 7,000-tonne Russian destroyer Marshal Shaposhnikov and a Russian tanker. China deployed three ships—the Tangshan guided missile destroyer, the Daijing frigate and the Taihu supply ship—while two frigates came from Iran and three vessels from South Africa joined the fleet.
Indian officials described the absence as a political calculation and a sign of caution about deeper military engagement with China. According to Helmoed Heitman, “I have not heard of any other BRICS navy taking part, apart from South Africa, Russia, China and Iran.”
Border tensions along the Line of Actual Control continue to limit defense cooperation despite some diplomatic contacts, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent meeting with Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. As Dean Wingrin noted, “The timing and partners change the political stakes.”
At the same time, the Indian Navy is expanding roles in other forums. India will lead training facilities for the Bahrain-based Combined Maritime Force and will head the training capsule of Combined Task Force 154, marking a first in that role for New Delhi. Observers say this highlights India’s selective approach to multilateral maritime engagement.
A South African defense official, Chris Hattingh, warned about deeper alignment risks, stating “What begins as quiet military cooperation slips into secrecy and ends in open alignment.” Ongoing India–China tensions thus continue to constrain joint naval initiatives within BRICS.
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