External Affairs Ministry official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that India had not participated in previous similar activities. File. | Photo credit: PTI
India on Saturday (Jan 17, 2026) said it had skipped the multilateral naval war game initiated by South Africa with a number of BRICS countries as the exercise was not an institutional activity within the grouping.
The exercise, which took place in South African waters, involved the navies of China, Russia, Iran, Egypt, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), among others.
The week-long military war game took place amid rising tensions in Iran over possible military strikes on the ground over a crackdown on anti-government protesters.
Our response to media inquiries regarding comments regarding India’s non-participation in the so-called ‘BRICS naval exercise’ ⬇️
🔗 https://t.co/OLcWvHDLCmpic.twitter.com/Hbc5ZhwFCf
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEEAIndia) January 17, 2026
“We clarify that the exercise in question was solely a South African initiative with some BRICS members participating,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
“It was not a regular or institutionalized BRICS activity, nor was it attended by all BRICS members,” he said.
Mr Jaiswal was responding to media queries regarding India’s absence from the so-called ‘BRICS naval exercise’.
An MEA spokesperson said India had not participated in previous similar activities.
“The regular exercise that India is a part of in this context is the IBSAMAR naval exercise which brings together the navies of India, Brazil and South Africa,” he said.
The last edition of IBSAMAR (India-Brazil-South Africa Maritime Transport) was held in October 2024.
India is the current chairman of BRICS.
Originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, BRICS expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the UAE in 2024, and Indonesia joined in 2025.
It emerged as an influential group representing approximately 49.5% of the global population, approximately 40% of global GDP, and approximately 26% of global trade.
Published – 17 Jan 2026 16:11 IST