Iran, Russia and China sail the Red Sea in a joint naval drill
Iran, Russia and China launched a joint naval drill called “Marine Security Belt 2024” in the Gulf of Oman, according to The Arab Weekly and agencies on March 13th.
The drill’s spokesman, Admiral Mostafa Tajaddini, stated that the operation will cover 17,000 square kilometres of water, while it seems like Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Oman, Pakistan and South Africa will be passive observers of the exercise.
Combined, the three allies mobilised more than 20 ships, support vessels, combat boats, and naval helicopters. Moreover, in the drill, China is operating the guided-missile destroyer Urumqi and the guided-missile frigate Linyi, while Russia is employing a Slava-class cruiser, the Varyag, to lead its forces.
READ: Chinese fleet heads to Red Sea amid rising tensions
The cooperation between the countries seems to be a response to the increasing tensions between Iran and the US, being the former a weapon supplier for America’s long-time antagonist in the Russia-Ukraine war.
In addition, Iran is also one of the most powerful allies of the Houthis, a Yemen-based military organisation, responsible for a series of strikes in the Red Sea aimed at military and commercial ships that caused an interruption in the trade from Asia to Europe.
Addressing the troubles in the shipping waters, on February 19th , the EU launched a naval mission in the Red Sea, claiming that “The European Union is responding swiftly to the necessity to restore maritime security and freedom of navigation in a highly strategic maritime corridor”, quoting foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.
