KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – The Russian Navy will conduct a series of exercises in the next few months with all of its fleet commands throughout their respective areas of operations, the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Thursday. Russian Navy Chief Admiral Nikolai Evmenov will oversee the effort, which is in accordance with the Russian Armed […]
Iran, Russia and China launch joint naval exercises in Indian Ocean
On February 16, as NATO prepared its summit to prosecute “strategic rivalry” with Russia and China, Iranian and Russian warships launched ongoing naval drills in strategic waters of the Indian Ocean, south of Iran and the oil-rich Persian Gulf. They are to soon be joined by Chinese warships which were reportedly delayed by the Chinese New Year festival.
The drills highlight the global war tensions that are at explosive levels as the Biden administration takes office. These are the second such exercises, continuing a format inaugurated by joint Iranian-Russian-Chinese “Maritime Security Belt” naval drills held in December 2019. Shortly afterwards, Washington ordered the brazen assassination of top Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, who was murdered in a US drone strike at the Baghdad airport on January 3, 2020.
By Dimitri Simes | February 17, 2021 | 5:49pm EST
A handout picture provided by the Iranian military shows a navy warship during a previous military exercise, last fall. (Photo by Iranian Army office/AFP via Getty Images)
Moscow (CNSNews.com) – Russia and Iran launched joint naval exercises in the northern Indian Ocean this week amid a continuing standoff between the regime in Tehran and the Biden administration over the Iran nuclear deal.
The Maritime Security Belt drills are scheduled to run from February 16-19, and will cover an area of 17,000 square kilometers.
Russia’s Baltic Fleet, which is participating in the exercise, said on Tuesday Russian and Iranian sailors would rehearse defending a ship from enemy fire, joint maneuvering, and rescuing a merchant ship captured by pirates.