DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: China, Iran and Russia have begun a joint naval drill in the Gulf of Oman, a crucial waterway near the mouth of the Arabian Gulf, officials said Tuesday.
The drill, known as “Marine Security Belt 2024,” was broadcast on Chinese state television and a video was released by the Russian navy.
China’s participation includes the guided-missile destroyer Urumqi and the guided-missile frigate Linyi, while Russia’s forces are spearheaded by the Varyag, a Slava-class cruiser. The exercise involves over 20 ships from the three nations, including support vessels and combat boats, as well as naval helicopters.
Adm. Mostafa Tajaddini, the spokesperson for the drill, was quoted by Iranian state television as saying that the exercise would span 17,000 square kilometers (6,600 square miles) of water. He highlighted that the joint drill, now in its fourth iteration since 2019, is aimed at promoting trade, combating piracy and terrorism, supporting humanitarian efforts, and facilitating information exchange for rescue operations, among other goals.
In response to escalating regional tensions with the United States, Iran has stepped up its military cooperation with Beijing and Moscow. This has been further fueled by Iran’s provision of military drones to Russia for use in the Ukrainian conflict.
The drill is being observed by Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Oman, Pakistan, and South Africa. The Gulf of Oman, where the exercise is taking place, has been the site of numerous attacks since 2019, attributed by the US to Iran, along with ship seizures by Tehran, following the breakdown of the nuclear deal with world powers. The Strait of Hormuz, located in the Arabian Gulf, is a narrow passage through which approximately a fifth of the world’s oil trade flows.
