Defence Wing

**BRICS Drills and the New Geometry of Global Power: Why Joint Naval Exercises by China, Russia, and Iran in South Africa Are Raising International Tensions** Introduction: A Signal Sent Across the Seas When warships from China, Russia, and Iran converge off the coast of South Africa under the banner of BRICS-linked naval cooperation, the event is far more than a routine military exercise. It is a carefully choreographed geopolitical signal, transmitted across oceans to Washington, Brussels, and beyond. These drills represent a visible manifestation of a world in transition—one in which multipolarity is no longer an abstract theory but an emerging operational reality. Naval exercises are rarely just about seamanship. They are about power projection, alliance-building, deterrence, and messaging. In this case, the message is unambiguous: major non-Western powers are increasingly willing to coordinate militarily, operate in strategically sensitive waters, and challenge the lon...

USA US–Iran Tensions: Maritime Confrontation, Domestic Unrest, and the Escalating Geometry of Power The long-simmering tensions between the United States and Iran have entered a more volatile and multidimensional phase, marked by aggressive maritime actions, sharpened strategic warnings, and intensifying domestic unrest within Iran itself. What is unfolding is not a sudden rupture, but a cumulative escalation—one shaped by years of sanctions, proxy confrontations, and mutual distrust. Yet recent developments suggest that the margin for miscalculation is narrowing, and the consequences of error could reverberate far beyond the Middle East. At the center of the latest escalation lies the maritime domain. The United States has increasingly targeted Iranian-linked oil tankers, intercepting or seizing vessels accused of violating sanctions regimes. These actions, framed by Washington as lawful enforcement of international economic restrictions, are viewed in Tehran as acts of pi...

--- US–Venezuela Tensions: Oil, Power, and the Precarious Balance of Global Order In early 2026, geopolitical tensions between the United States and Venezuela erupted into one of the most fraught crises in recent Latin American history. What began as a crescendo of economic sanctions and maritime interdictions has metamorphosed into a complex milieu of military intervention, diplomatic discord, and contested claims over sovereignty and natural resources — particularly petroleum.  At the heart of this confrontation lies Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, the largest proven in the world. As the Trump administration escalated its pressure campaign on Caracas, the United States executed a series of aggressive maneuvers: seizing sanctioned oil tankers in the Caribbean, enforcing a naval blockade dubbed Operation Southern Spear, and attempting to wrest control of Venezuelan crude exports from Maduro’s government. The recent capture of Olina, the fifth oil tanker intercepted by U...