Hong Kong
UJ
—
Naval vessels from Iran, China, and Russia commenced their annual joint maneuvers in the Gulf of Oman on Monday, showcasing their military collaboration in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s disruptive approach to traditional Western alliances.
The “Security Belt-2025” exercises, occurring near the Iranian port of Chabahar, mark the fifth joint naval drill conducted by Iran, China, and Russia since 2019, as reported by Chinese state media.
Observers have consistently viewed these exercises as a reflection of the strengthening ties between the three authoritarian regimes as they aim to counterbalance US influence and challenge the Western-led global framework.
However, this year’s exercises carry even greater significance due to Trump’s upheaval of the transatlantic alliance—central to Western security for many years—by courting Russia while sidelining Ukraine, as well as compelling Asian allies to increase their contributions for US defense.
When asked about the joint exercises on Sunday, Trump expressed that he was “not at all” worried about the display of power from these three adversaries of the US.
“We’re stronger than all of them. We have more power than all of them,” he informed Fox News while aboard Air Force One.
Concerns in Washington are rising regarding the forming strategic alliance among China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, which US lawmakers have termed an “axis of authoritarianism,” “axis of autocrats,” and “axis of dictators.”
There are fears that a common hostility towards the US is increasingly compelling these nations to collaborate, thus magnifying the threats they pose individually to Washington and its allies across multiple regions simultaneously.
Simultaneously, Trump has openly sought to engage his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in an effort to resolve the conflict in Ukraine by initiating direct dialogue with Moscow while leaving Kyiv and European allies in the lurch.
The military rapport between Russia and North Korea has significantly deepened over the past year, with both countries signing a mutual defense pact and North Korea dispatching its forces to support Russia in its invasion of Ukraine.
The current drills occur amidst heightened tensions between the US and Iran.
Since his return to the White House, Trump has reinstated what he terms his “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, which aims to reduce its oil exports to zero, intending to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapon capabilities—an approach condemned by Tehran as “bullying” tactics.
The Gulf of Oman serves as a pivotal passage linking the Indian Ocean to the Strait of Hormuz, through which over a quarter of the globe’s maritime oil trade transit.
The US maintains a substantial presence in the area through the Fifth Fleet, which is headquartered in nearby Bahrain.
According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, the joint naval exercises will involve 15 combat vessels, auxiliary ships, and gunboats, along with helicopters, as reported by the state news agency TASS.
“The Russian contingent includes the Rezky and Russian Hero Aldar Tsydenzhapov corvettes, along with the Pechenega tanker from the Pacific Fleet,” the ministry stated.
China is contributing the Type 052D guided-missile destroyer Baotou and supply ship Gaoyouhu from a nearby naval escort task force to participate in the drills, according to a statement from the Chinese Defense Ministry.
The exercises, aimed at “enhancing military trust and bolstering practical cooperation,” will feature simulated attacks on maritime targets, visit-board-search-seizure operations, and search and rescue drills, as per the ministry’s report.
Iran has dispatched a stealth missile corvette and a patrol vessel, as indicated by Iranian state media.
