China, Iran and Russia have begun a joint naval drill in the Gulf of Oman, a crucial waterway near the mouth of the Persian Gulf, officials said Tuesday. Footage aired by Chinese state television and a video released by the Russian navy showed the ongoing drill, known as “Marine Security Belt 2024.“
Quick Read
- China, Iran, and Russia have initiated a joint naval exercise, “Marine Security Belt 2024,” in the strategic Gulf of Oman, a key passage near the Persian Gulf entrance.
- The exercise features the participation of the Chinese guided-missile destroyer Urumqi, the guided-missile frigate Linyi, and the Russian Slava-class cruiser Varyag.
- The drill includes over 20 ships, support vessels, combat boats, and naval helicopters from the three countries.
- Spanning 17,000 square kilometers (6,600 square miles) of water, the exercise aims to enhance trade security, counteract piracy and terrorism, support humanitarian efforts, and facilitate information exchange in rescue operations.
- This marks the fourth joint naval drill between these nations since 2019, highlighting their increasing military cooperation amid regional tensions with the United States.
- Observers from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Oman, Pakistan, and South Africa are present, reflecting the drill’s international interest.
- The Gulf of Oman, the location of the exercise, is significant for global oil trade and has witnessed a series of attacks and ship seizures attributed to Iran following the breakdown of its nuclear agreement with world powers.
The Associated Press has the story:
Quick Read
- China, Iran, and Russia have initiated a joint naval exercise, “Marine Security Belt 2024,” in the strategic Gulf of Oman, a key passage near the Persian Gulf entrance.
- The exercise features the participation of the Chinese guided-missile destroyer Urumqi, the guided-missile frigate Linyi, and the Russian Slava-class cruiser Varyag.
- The drill includes over 20 ships, support vessels, combat boats, and naval helicopters from the three countries.
- Spanning 17,000 square kilometers (6,600 square miles) of water, the exercise aims to enhance trade security, counteract piracy and terrorism, support humanitarian efforts, and facilitate information exchange in rescue operations.
- This marks the fourth joint naval drill between these nations since 2019, highlighting their increasing military cooperation amid regional tensions with the United States.
- Observers from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Oman, Pakistan, and South Africa are present, reflecting the drill’s international interest.
- The Gulf of Oman, the location of the exercise, is significant for global oil trade and has witnessed a series of attacks and ship seizures attributed to Iran following the breakdown of its nuclear agreement with world powers.
The Associated Press has the story:
Iran, Russia & China show off their ships in a joint naval drill in Gulf of Oman
Newslooks- DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) —
China, Iran and Russia have begun a joint naval drill in the Gulf of Oman, a crucial waterway near the mouth of the Persian Gulf, officials said Tuesday.
Footage aired by Chinese state television and a video released by the Russian navy showed the ongoing drill, known as “Marine Security Belt 2024.”
China sent the guided-missile destroyer Urumqi and the guided-missile frigate Linyi to the exercise. Russia’s forces are being led by the Varyag, a Slava-class cruiser.
More than 20 ships, support vessels and combat boats from the three countries, as well as naval helicopters, are involved in the exercise.
A report by Iranian state television quoted the drill’s spokesperson, Adm. Mostafa Tajaddini, as saying the drill will take place in 17,000 square kilometers (6,600 square miles) of water.
Tajaddini added that the three nations’ drill — their fourth since 2019 — was also meant to improve trade, confront “piracy and terrorism, support to humanitarian activities and the exchange of information in the field of rescue,” among other goals.
Iran has stepped up its military cooperation with Beijing and Moscow in response to regional tensions with the United States, including due to supplying military drones to Russia now being used in Moscow’s war on Ukraine.
Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Oman, Pakistan and South Africa are observers of the drill.
The Gulf of Oman has seen a series of attacks since 2019 that the U.S. has blamed on Iran, as well as ship seizures by Tehran, since the collapse of its nuclear deal with world powers. A fifth of all oil traded passes through the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf’s narrow mouth.
