Security Belt 2025; Iran, Russia, China flex naval muscles in joint drills
The navies of Iran, Russia and China launched new military drills off the coast of Iran on Monday in a bid to “enhance naval cooperation” between the three countries’ navies.
Flotillas of Russian and Chinese military vessels arrived in Iran’s territorial waters in the northern part of the Indian Ocean on Monday to participate in the large-scale Security Belt 2025 joint naval exercise.
Russian Rezkiy and Geroy Rossiyskoy Federatsii Aldar Tsydenzhapov corvettes as well as Pechenga fleet oiler of the Pacific Fleet, alongside Chinese Baotou destroyer and Gaoyouhu replenishment ship docked at Iran’s southeastern Chabahar Port on Monday.
Representatives of several other countries, like Azerbaijan, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates, also landed at Iran’s only oceanic port city to take part in the military drills as observers.
Rear Admiral Mostafa Tajeddini, the spokesman for the joint naval drills, said on Monday that the main stage of the Security Belt-2025 naval military drills will kick off on Tuesday.
He said that the exercise aims to enhance maritime security in the northern Indian Ocean and increase maritime interactions between the three countries in order to increase cooperation.
Vessels from the Iranian Navy and the Naval Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps will take part in the drills that mark the seventh edition of “Security Belt” exercises by Iran, Russia and China.
The US President Donald Trump also reacted to the military drills.
On Monday, while returning to Washington from Florida on Air Force One, Trump was asked by a reporter if he was concerned about the joint military exercises between Iran, Russia and China. “No. Not at all. Because we are stronger than all of them,” he said.
“I have rebuilt the United States. Unfortunately, Biden (former US president) did nothing about it, but I rebuilt the military.”
The three countries have held similar exercises in the region in recent years.
They have also been involved in joint efforts aimed at countering piracy and maritime terrorism, exchanging information in naval rescue and relief operations as well as sharing operational and tactical experience.