China, Russia, and Iran Convene Joint Naval Drills Near Gulf of Oman

The Chinese defense ministry announced that this week, China, Russia, and Iran will be participating in combined naval maneuvers close to the Gulf of Oman.

The exercises, known as "Security Bond-2024," are scheduled to run from Monday through Friday with the goal of "jointly securing regional maritime security" and "strengthening maritime cooperation," according to a ministry statement made on Monday.

Multinational Naval Drills Promote Regional Security

TOPSHOT - Chinese amphibious tanks and marines storm a beachhead in an amphibious assault drill during the third phase of the Sino-Russian 'Peace Mission 2005' joint military exercise, held in China's Shandong Peninsula, 24 August 2005.
(Photo : /XINHUA/AFP via Getty Images)

The exercises are scheduled to begin on Tuesday, and they will include the participation of military officials from a number of different nations, including Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Oman, India, and South Africa. These delegates will watch the maneuvers as they take place.

As observed by Iranian official media, the official objective of the drills is to strengthen regional security and build multilateral cooperation among the participating states, with a focus on a common dedication to maritime stability among those involved.

As part of the preparations for the exercises, China repeated its support to the cooperation by declaring that it will be sending the guided-missile destroyer Urumqi, the guided-missile frigate Linyi, and the comprehensive supply ship Dongpinghu.

In a comparable manner, the Russian Ministry of Defense repeated the hands-on aspect of the exercises, which are scheduled to take place in the seas of the Gulf of Oman, with the primary objective of improving maritime safety in the region. There have been reports from Russian official media that ships from the Pacific Fleet have arrived at the Chah Bahar port in Iran. The strong Varyag cruiser is the ship that is leading the group, according to Sky News.

Tensions Rise Amid Naval Drills Amid Conflict

There remain tensions, including the war in Gaza, and a number of attacks on boats in the Red Sea, which are assigned to Iran-backed Houthi rebels. These active maritime drills take place against the backdrop of heightened tensions that have been fanned by these current wars.

Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the commander of the Houthis, has made worrying remarks regarding the frequency and intensity of these assaults. As justification, he has cited complaints against what he perceives to be conduct in Gaza.

A number of officials from the US have spoken of their worries about the growing number of military connections between China, Russia, and Iran.

These officials are concerned about the implications that this may have for the stability of the area. The former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mark Milley, has issued a warning about potential problems that might evolve as a result of this cooperation. He thinks that the impacts could be felt for a very long time in the future.

The exercises, slated to span from Monday through Friday, aim to collectively uphold regional maritime security, as communicated by China's defense ministry via the social media platform WeChat. Notably, this year's drills follow a similar round held last year under the banner of "Security Bond 2023," reflecting a continuity of collaborative efforts in the maritime domain.

The cooperative military exercises demonstrate the evolving character of international relationships and the combined attempts to protect maritime interests in unpredictable times, even as tensions in the area remain strong, Business Recorder reported.