Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India

01/17/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/17/2026 02:43

Official Spokesperson’s response to media queries regarding comments relating to India’s non-participation in a so-called ‘BRICS Naval Exercise’

In response to media queries on comments relating to India's non-participation in a so-called 'BRICS Naval Exercise', Official Spokesperson Shri Randhir Jaiswal said:

We clarify that the exercise in question was entirely a South African initiative in which some BRICS members took part. It was not a regular or institutionalised BRICS activity, nor did all BRICS members take part in it. India has not participated in previous such activities. The regular exercise that India is a part of in this context is the IBSAMAR maritime exercise that brings together the navies of India, Brazil and South Africa. The last edition of IBSAMAR was held in October 2024.

New Delhi
January 17, 2026

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