India has defended its decision to abstain from the "Will for Peace 2026" BRICS naval exercise, which recently concluded off the coast of Durban, South Africa. The drill, which saw participation from Russia, China, Iran, and South Africa, brought together a significant display of naval power in the Indian Ocean.

According to Indian government sources, the decision to skip the exercise was primarily a "political move" and not related to scheduling constraints. The government has emphasized that the naval exercise was "purely a South African initiative," implying that participation was not mandatory for all BRICS members.

The primary driver behind India's reluctance to participate appears to be the ongoing tensions and strained defense cooperation with China. Despite some improvements in India-China relations, particularly following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, defense cooperation remains restricted.

Specifically, India has expressed concerns regarding Beijing's increased naval presence and activities in the Indian Ocean. These concerns have led to a cautious approach towards military involvement with China, even within multilateral frameworks like BRICS. Dean Wingrin, a defense analyst, noted that "the timing and partners change the political stakes," highlighting the sensitivity surrounding joint military exercises. Helmoed Heitman, an independent military expert, observed that only South Africa, Russia, China, and Iran actively participated in the naval drill.

The naval exercise itself involved a substantial deployment of military assets. Russia sent the Marshal Shaposhnikov, a 7,000-tonne destroyer, and a tanker. China contributed three ships, including the Tangshan, a guided missile destroyer; the Daqing, a guided missile frigate; and the Taihu, a supply ship. Iran's navy was represented by two frigates, while South Africa deployed three ships, including an offshore patrol vessel. The exercise included drills focused on rescue missions, maritime strike simulations, and technical exchanges.

While India chose to abstain from the BRICS naval exercise, it is actively expanding its maritime role in other forums. The Indian Navy will lead training facilities for the Bahrain-based Combined Maritime Force (CMF), a coalition of over 40 countries, including the USA, Britain, France, Germany, Gulf states, Pakistan, and Turkey. This marks the first time India will head the training component of Combined Task Force 154, which focuses on enhancing maritime skills.

Geopolitical analysts suggest that India's decision reflects a balancing act in its relations with various global powers. Harsh Pant of the Observer Research Foundation noted that the BRICS bloc was primarily created as an economic and political partnership rather than a military alliance. Given the complex dynamics between BRICS members, particularly the strained relations between Iran and the UAE, and Iran and Egypt, the emergence of a formal military alliance within BRICS remains unlikely.