Military drills in the Gulf of Oman unite Iran, Russia, China
Iran, Russia, and China will commence their annual naval exercises on Monday. The drills will be conducted near the southeastern Iranian port city of Chabahar, as reported by the Iranian Tasnim agency on Sunday.
According to the Chinese weekly Global Times, the Chinese Ministry of Defence confirmed on Sunday its participation in the Security Belt-2025 exercises and will dispatch a destroyer and a supply ship.
Joint military manoeuvres
As part of the training, the navies of the three countries will practise attacks on maritime targets and search and rescue operations. The manoeuvres aim to deepen military relations and cooperation among the armed forces of the participating countries.
Security Belt-2025 will be the fifth joint Chinese-Iranian-Russian naval exercise since 2019.
The exercises will take place in the Gulf of Oman, a crucial gateway between the Strait of Hormuz and the Indian Ocean and a significant point on the energy resource transportation route.
Building an economic alliance
Sanctions imposed by the West are propelling Russia, Iran, and China to strengthen economic and political collaboration.
China has promised Russia an unlimited partnership and has signed a 25-year, 380 billion euros strategic agreement with Iran.
All three countries also join the same international organisations, such as BRICS. Their trade is increasing, and plans for free trade zones, independent payment systems, and trade routes bypassing Western-controlled locations are emerging.
Meanwhile, Iran and Russia have intensified their military and political cooperation since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began.
Iran has supplied Russia with thousands of Shahed-type drones used in airstrikes on Ukraine and is assisting Moscow in building a drone factory in Russia.
