China, Iran and Russia hold joint war games in Gulf of Oman in response to threats to coastal trade
China, Iran and Russia hold joint war games in Gulf of Oman in response to threats to coastal trade
Military exercises running through March 16 are to involve warships and aviation.
State media reported that a grouping of ships from Russia’s Pacific Fleet, led by the Varyag cruiser, arrived at the Iranian port of Chabahar on Monday ahead of the drills that will see representatives from the navies of Azerbaijan, India, Kazakhstan, Oman, Pakistan and South Africa act as observers.
For its part, China’s defence ministry said the drills – called “Maritime Security Belt – 2024” – were aimed at “jointly maintaining regional maritime security”.
“China will send … guided-missile destroyer Urumqi, guided-missile frigate Linyi and comprehensive supply ship Dongpinghu to participate in the exercise,” the ministry added in a statement, without providing further details.
Iranian state media, meanwhile, reported that the exercise’s goal is to strengthen “the security of international maritime trade, combating piracy and maritime terrorism”, among others.
The drills come as a United States-led naval coalition has been operating in Red Sea waters since December 2023 trying to counter the Houthi attacks.
Separately, some 20,000 troops from 13 NATO members are conducting drills in the north of new member Sweden as well as its neighbours Finland and Norway.
The Nordic exercise is part of wider exercises called Steadfast Defender 24, the largest in decades for the US-led military alliance, with up to 90,000 troops taking part over several months.
The alliance says the intention is “to demonstrate NATO’s ability to defend every inch of its territory” – widely seen as a signal to Russia.
Perfect situation for an enormous false flag attack tbh. Instant world war just add warhead.
Iranian state media, meanwhile, reported that the exercise’s goal is to strengthen “the security of international maritime trade, combating piracy and maritime terrorism”, among others.
Isn't Iran the nation that is giving intelligence and missiles to Houthi rebels that are causing the current danger to shipping in the Red Sea? A karmic response would be if an Iranian ship was hit by an Iranian missile in the Red Sea fired by the Houthis.
And Iran has in recent history threatened to shut down the Strait of Hormuz by deploying sea mines.
Maybe their role in the exercise is to simulate the bad guys?
Just did some maths.
If the whole Iranian navy and the whole Russian Pacific Fleet participates along with the three named Chinese ships, their combined displacement will be almost as much as a single Gerard R. Ford class carrier - 80% of it, actually. To be fair though, one quarter of the displacement is the comprehensive supply ship Dongpinghu, which is a big military cargo ship, not a direct combat vessel.
Americans love their floating fortresses
Good to see a multipolar world arising from the rubble of Gaza. The US and Israel have brought nothing but death and misery to millions in the Middle East
Edit: Triggered the Muricans