Iran-led naval drills bring Moscow, Beijing into Indian Ocean

Iran, China, and Russia are set to conduct their eighth joint naval exercise, bringing together units from the participating countries for a combined maritime drill, Tasnim News Agency reports.

The exercise, part of the ongoing “Maritime Security Belt” series, is scheduled to take place later this month in the northern region of the Indian Ocean, corresponding to the Iranian month of Bahman. Participating forces will include the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy, the naval units of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and the navies of China and Russia.

The “Maritime Security Belt” exercises were initiated by the Iranian Navy in 2019, and seven phases have been conducted since then, reflecting continued military cooperation among the three countries in regional waters.

The drills aim to enhance maritime coordination and security operations, reinforcing strategic ties among Tehran, Beijing, and Moscow amid a shifting geopolitical landscape in the Indo-Pacific region.

By Vafa Guliyeva