The navies of China, Iran, and Russia started joint military exercises in the Gulf of Oman on March 12, marking their fifth collaborative drill in recent years.
Observers from Azerbaijan, India, Kazakhstan, Oman, Pakistan, and South Africa are also participating in the exercise, signaling a deepening partnership in maritime security in the region.
More than 20 ships, support vessels and combat boats from the three countries, as well as naval helicopters, are involved in the naval drills.
The exercises, called Maritime Security Belt 2024, are scheduled to run until March 15. These war games will involve warships and aviation assets focusing on safeguarding maritime economic activities, according to Russia’s defense ministry.
The exercise mainly features anti-piracy and search and rescue training courses, and is organized in three phases, namely the harbor phase, the sea phase and the summarize phase, the report said.
Meanwhile, Iranian state media underscored that the exercise aims to strengthen “the security of international maritime trade, combating piracy and maritime terrorism”, among others.
China’s Ministry of National Defense said the aim of the exercise is to jointly safeguard regional maritime security.
Vessels taking part in the exercise
“China will send … guided-missile destroyer Urumqi, guided-missile frigate Linyi and comprehensive supply ship Dongpinghu to participate in the exercise,” the ministry said in a statement, without providing further details.
The Chinese participating forces consist of three warships of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s 45th escort task force that just wrapped up escort missions in the Gulf of Aden, namely the Type 052D guided missile destroyer Urumqi, the Type 054A guided missile frigate Linyi and the Type 903A comprehensive replenishment ship Dongpinghu.
Iran is taking part in the drills with over 10 vessels including the frigates Alborz and Jamaran.
A fleet from Russia’s Pacific Fleet, led by the Varyag guided missile cruiser, including the large anti-submarine warfare ship Marshal Shaposhniko,. has arrived at Iran’s port of Chabahar in preparation for the drills.
Escalating tension in the region
Tehran has stepped up its military cooperation with Beijing and Moscow in response to regional tensions with the United States.
The joint drills commence at a time when tensions in the region are escalated. Israel’s prolonged conflict with Gaza, now in its sixth month, and Yemen’s Houthi rebels launching attacks on ships in the Red Sea have intensified the geopolitical landscape. A US-led naval coalition is operating in the Red Sea since December 2023 to counter Houthi attacks.
Additionally, NATO members are conducting separate exercises in northern Sweden, Finland, and Norway, involving around 20,000 troops. Named Steadfast Defender 24, it is the largest such exercise in decades for the alliance, with up to 90,000 troops expected to participate over several months.
The NATO exercise aims to showcase the alliance’s capability to defend its territory comprehensively, widely interpreted as a message to Russia amid ongoing tensions.
As global powers engage in strategic maneuvers, the implications for regional stability and security remain under scrutiny.