China, Russia and Iran hold 5-day military exercise near Gulf of Oman as Red Sea attacks continue

It is the second time China has conducted joint drills in the Indian Ocean since the outbreak of war in Gaza after Hamas militants’ surprise attack on Israel on October 7.

In the Arabian Sea in November, China conducted joint exercises with Pakistan involving PLA guided missile destroyer Zibo. The Chinese nationalist tabloid the Global Times said it was “the largest ever” exercise to be held between the two countries.
The joint exercise also comes amid increasing confrontation in the Red Sea after Iran-aligned Houthi in Yemen launched drone and missile attacks on international and commercial shipping to show its support for the Palestinians, which prompted the US-led coalition to launch counterstrikes on the militant group.

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China, which stations its warships at a naval base in Djibouti near the Red Sea, has not officially condemned the Houthis attacks but according to Reuters Beijing has reportedly urged Tehran to rein in attacks on ships in the Red Sea. China abstained from a United Nations Security Council resolution on the conflict in January.

The Russian defence ministry said its Pacific fleet, led by the Varyag guided missile cruiser and the Marshal Shaposhnikov frigate, had arrived at Iran’s Chabahar port to take part in the joint drill.

“Russian vessels will participate in the joint naval exercise Maritime Security Belt – 2024. It will also involve ships, boats and naval aviation of Iran and China. Representatives of the navies of Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Oman, India and South Africa will act as observers,” the Russian defence ministry said, according to Tass.

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Along with Chinese and Russian fleets, more than 10 Iranian Navy vessels and three helicopters are reportedly taking part.

Last month, Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, Commander of the Iranian Navy, announced that Tehran would hold joint drills with Beijing and Moscow before the end of March, aimed at ensuring regional security.

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The tripartite naval drill comes a year after Maritime Security Belt – 2023 featured a five-day drill between China, Russia and Iran in the Arabian Sea. China’s South Sea Fleet destroyer the Nanning, Iran’s light frigate Jamaran and the Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov took part.

The exercise involved live-fire suppression and strike precision, as well as anti-terrorism and anti-piracy training, including a simulated rescue mission to a hijacked merchant ship.