In a demonstration of strengthening military cooperation, the naval forces of China, Russia, and Iran commenced the Security Belt-2025 joint maritime exercises on March 11, 2025, in the Gulf of Oman near Iran's southeastern port city of Chabahar.
These exercises aim to enhance regional security and deepen multilateral collaboration among the participating nations. The drills encompass various operations, including maritime target strikes, visit, board, search, and seizure procedures, damage control, and joint search and rescue missions.
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has deployed a destroyer and a replenishment ship for the exercises, reflecting China's commitment to bolstering practical cooperation and mutual trust with Russia and Iran.
Iranian media reports indicate that the drills involve warships and support vessels from the naval forces of Iran's army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), alongside Russian and Chinese navies. The exercises are set in the northern Indian Ocean, focusing on enhancing regional security and expanding multilateral cooperation.
Notably, observers from several countries, including South Africa, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Qatar, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and Sri Lanka, are attending the exercises, underscoring the international interest in these maneuvers.
This marks the fifth iteration of joint naval exercises among China, Iran, and Russia since 2019, highlighting the growing defense ties among these nations. The continuation of such drills signifies their collective effort to counterbalance Western influence and promote a multipolar global order.
The Security Belt-2025 exercises are expected to continue over the coming days, with participating forces engaging in a series of coordinated maritime operations designed to enhance interoperability and collective maritime security capabilities.