(MENAFN) The armed forces of Iran, China, and Russia have conducted a coordinated naval war exercise in the northern Indian Ocean. The three nations participated in the major stage of the 2023 Maritime Security Belt naval drills on Friday, which included a variety of tactics and operations, including rescuing hijacked vessels. Rear Admiral Mostafa Tajoddini, a spokesperson for the exercises, stated that the naval forces of the three nations had trained under realistic circumstances in a coordinated effort to free two trade boats that had been seized in international seas by pirates.
According to Tajoddini, an Iranian Navy SH-3 helicopter was dispatched for reconnaissance and search after the two target liners sent mayday signals to the Maritime Rescue and Coordination Centre (MRCC) of Chabahar port in southeast Iran. The Iranian Navy's "Sahand" destroyer then acted as the command ship to undertake the operation. The spokesperson underlined that the Iranian Army and IRGC special forces partnered with Chinese and Russian airborne commandos to parachute themselves onto the target trade ships and apprehend the pirates.
The joint exercise seeks to boost multilateral cooperation among the three nations, strengthen regional security and its foundations, and show each nation's willingness and capacity to support international peace, maritime security, and the development of a maritime community with a shared future. This is the fourth joint drill in recent years that Iran, China, and Russia have participated in, reflecting their commitment to deepening strategic and military ties.
The exercise is also significant in the context of the changing geopolitical landscape in the region, where the US has been a dominant power for decades. The increasing cooperation between Iran, China, and Russia is seen as a challenge to US hegemony and a reflection of the growing influence of these nations in the Middle East and beyond. It is also a signal to other countries in the region that they are capable of working together to address common security concerns and threats.
The joint exercise demonstrates the capabilities of the navies of Iran, China, and Russia and their commitment to maintaining regional security and stability. It is an important step in strengthening their strategic partnership and enhancing their ability to respond to emerging security challenges in the region. The exercise also highlights the importance of multilateral cooperation in maintaining peace and security in the global commons of the oceans.
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