Drills in a show of deepening strategic cooperation
WANA (Mar 17) – The navies of China, Iran and Russia have held a joint maritime exercise starting Wednesday in a move to enhance cooperation as well as to safeguard maritime security and regional peace.
Chinese and Russian vessels have entered Iran’s territorial waters in the Sea of Oman, delegates from Pakistan and Kazakhstan navies are also there as observers.
The Chinese and Russian navy commanders said the joint exercise further demonstrates the preparedness of the participating countries to maintain security and it will deepen their practical cooperation.
The spokesman for the joint exercise, dubbed ‘naval security belt combined war game 2023’, stated that launching overnight strikes against hostile aerial targets was among the main tactics of the naval drill, which Iranian, Russian and Chinese forces successfully practiced late on Thursday.
warships are seen during a joint naval military drill between Iran, Russia, and China in the sea of Oman, Iran March 16, 2023. Iranian Army/WANA (West Asia News Agency)
Iranian naval forces, together with their Chinese and Russian counterparts, have held several joint war games in recent years with the purpose of improving the security of international maritime trade, countering piracy and maritime terrorism, exchange of information in naval rescue and relief operations, and exchange of operational and tactical experiences.
“This exercise will help deepen practical cooperation between the participating countries’ navies … and inject positive energy into regional peace and stability,” the Chinese Ministry of National Defense said in a statement on Wednesday.
The exercise which will continue until Sunday comes amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and China over a range of issues including China’s refusal to criticize Moscow over the war in Ukraine and continuing support for Russia.
The west is already in loggerheads with Moscow, with several anti-russian sanction packages in place since last February when the war started in Ukraine.
warships are seen during a joint naval military drill between Iran, Russia, and China in the sea of Oman, Iran March 16, 2023. Iranian Army/WANA (West Asia News Agency)
Iran for its part has always been considered “the enemy” for western countries since its revolution in 1979, having every possible pressure on its government from both the U.S. and the international community imposed on it.
U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the White House was not concerned by the joint training exercise, as it was not the first time that the Russians and Chinese trained together.
Iran, China and Russia naval drills in Sea of Oman
WANA (Mar 16) – The naval forces of Iran, China and Russia have started a joint exercise in the Sea of Oman, as the three countries are teaming up to deepen exchanges and cooperation among their navies. The maritime drills, dubbed “naval security belt combined war game 202,” kicked off on March 15 and will […]
“We’re going to watch it, we’ll monitor it, obviously, to make sure that there’s no threat resulting from this training exercise to our national security interests or those of our allies and partners in the region,” Kirby said on CNN.
According to analysts, this is the first time the trilateral exercise has been designated Security Belt, which is an indication that it has become a series and is expected to be held in a regular manner in the future.
warships are seen during a joint naval military drill between Iran, Russia, and China in the sea of Oman, Iran March 16, 2023. Iranian Army/WANA (West Asia News Agency)
The three countries held similar drills last year and in 2019, underscoring the growing military and political links that have been largely shunned by the U.S. and its partners.
Last week Iran also finalized a deal to purchase Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets from Russia as Tehran and Moscow are keen to deepen defense and economic cooperation in defiance of sweeping sanctions and coercive measures.
“Following the end of the Iran-Iraq war in 1988, Iran asked a bunch of countries to review the possibility of selling fighter jets to Iran and Russia said it was ready for their sale,” Iran’s mission to the United Nations said on Friday.
The three nations growing relationship is an eyesore for the U.S. and western countries, as it is bringing forth a multipolar world, even if they try to play it cool.
As we saw with China mediating relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, the presence of the U.S. is fading especially for those who have experienced the unreliable nature of the country who thinks, “The world is not a patch in our jeans”.
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