China to hold joint naval exercise with Iran, Russia near strategic Chabahar Port

On March 9, China's Defence Ministry announced that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy will soon conduct a joint naval exercise with Iran and Russia in the waters near Iran's Chabahar Port.

The exercise, dubbed Security Belt-2025, will take place in early to mid-March and is expected to focus on maritime security operations, including target strikes, visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) drills, damage control, and joint search and rescue missions, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The drill will feature the Chinese destroyer Baotou and the replenishment ship Gaoyouhu, both from the PLA Navy’s 47th escort task group.

The exercise marks the fifth joint naval drill between China, Iran, and Russia since 2019, underscoring the growing routine nature of military cooperation among the three nations.

The exercise aims to enhance military mutual trust and pragmatic cooperation, as well as bolster regional security in the Gulf of Oman, a critical energy shipping route connecting the Strait of Hormuz with the Indian Ocean. This area is pivotal for global energy shipments, with China, Iran, and Russia all holding significant strategic interests in maintaining stability in the region.

According to Chinese military experts, the focus of Security Belt-2025 will be on non-traditional security areas, further contributing to regional security efforts. The Baotou, a Type 052D guided missile destroyer, and the Gaoyouhu, a Type 903A replenishment ship, are both highly capable vessels, frequently involved in joint exercises with foreign navies, including recent participation in the AMAN-2025 multinational maritime drills in Pakistan.

This continued collaboration reflects the strengthening of ties between China, Iran, and Russia, with a shared interest in safeguarding their strategic and energy-related goals in the region.

By Aghakazim Guliyev