India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has officially clarified its non-participation in the recent 'Will for Peace 2026' naval drills hosted by South Africa. The MEA stated that the week-long exercise, which took place from January 9-16, 2026, near Cape Town, was "entirely a South African initiative" and not a "regular or institutionalised BRICS activity." MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that not all BRICS members participated, with India and Brazil notably absent as active naval participants, though Brazil did send observers. India underscored its consistent participation in the trilateral IBSAMAR maritime exercise, which involves India, Brazil, and South Africa, with its last edition held in October 2024, as its regular institutionalized naval engagement in this context. The 'Will for Peace 2026' drills saw the involvement of navies from China, Russia, Iran, Egypt, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The exercise garnered international attention, particularly due to the participation of Iran. The United States sharply criticized South Africa for including Iran, labeling Tehran as a "destabilizing actor and state sponsor of terror" and expressing "concern and alarm" over the move, which it viewed as undermining maritime security. Following the US criticism and reports that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had sought to have Iran withdraw, South Africa's defence ministry launched an inquiry to determine if the President's instructions regarding Iran's involvement were "misrepresented and/or ignored." The Times of India article's claims align with these verified facts from multiple credible sources, confirming its accuracy.