Russia, Iran and China are going to conduct military exercises "Maritime Security Belt - 2024" in the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
Naval exercises of Russia, China and Iran
The Russian MOD stated that a group of its warships had arrived in Iran to participate in warship and aircraft exercises.
The practical part of the exercises will take place in the waters of the Gulf of Oman of the Arabian Sea. The main purpose of the maneuvers is to practice the safety of maritime economic activity, the Russian MOD said.
It is reported that the Russian group is led by the missile cruiser "Varyag" of the Pacific Fleet.
It is noted that representatives of the navies of Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Oman, India and South Africa will act as observers.
Iran clarified that the exercises will begin on March 12 in the Arabian Sea.
Previous studies of three countries
A year ago, Russia, Iran and China held the "Maritime Security Belt — 2023" naval exercises in the Gulf of Oman from March 15 to 19.
Russia was represented by a detachment of ships of the Northern Fleet — the frigate "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov" and the medium sea tanker "Kama".
For the first time, exercises involving Russia, Iran, and China occurred in 2019 in the northern part of the Indian Ocean. In 2021, the training took place without China's participation.
It will be recalled that Iran supplies Russia with Shahed attack drones for attacks on Ukraine but denies this. Russia also wanted to receive from Iran Fateh-110 and Zolfaghar ballistic missiles with a range of 300 kilometres or more.
China claims neutrality, but The Wall Street Journal reported, that the country sells US-made drones and computer chips to Russia.
