China’s Strategic “Maritime Security” Exercises
In a statement, the Defence Ministry of China said that the drills will help to “deepen practical cooperation between the participating countries’ navies...and inject positive energy into regional peace and stability.”
According to the statement, other unnamed countries will also participate in the “Security-Bond 2023” military exercises.
The Chinese navy sent its “guided missile destroyer” Nanjing to participate in the non-combat exercises such as aerial search and rescue at sea.
Naval forces from China 🇨🇳, Iran 🇮🇷 and Russia 🇷🇺 are carrying out joint exercise in the Gulf of Oman this week.
— Maritime Security News (@marsec_osn) March 15, 2023
Other countries are also taking part in the “Security Bond-2023” exercise, Chinese Defence Ministry said without giving details.https://t.co/NWRAEWfjjw pic.twitter.com/AXLo7KlfMZ
Russia’s Plan of Action
Russia’s Defence Ministry reported in a statement on Wednesday that “The Northern Fleet’s naval group will practice joint operations with the Chinese destroyer Nanjing, the frigates Sahand and Jamaran, the corvette Bayandor and other ships and vessels from the Navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
Further, sailors from the three countries will perform “joint operations at sea, receive instructions, and hold tactical briefings.” The naval sailors will also practise “freeing a captured vessel” and assisting ships in trouble, among other things.
⚠️ China, Iran, and Russia have launched the Security Bond-2023 naval exercises in the Gulf of Oman, which will last until March 19.
— GeoInsider (@InsiderGeo) March 15, 2023
It is planned to practice aerial reconnaissance, rescue operations, maneuvering, etc.
The Chinese Ministry of Defense reports that the exercises… https://t.co/GDWy5yjrOR pic.twitter.com/6UdPAB51Y9
Rising Tensions with the West
This week’s trilateral exercises come amid rising tensions between China and the US over multiple issues.
A Russian fighter jet collided with the US Reaper drone MQ-9 on Tuesday, resulting in the aircraft crashing into the Black Sea. The US condemned the act and says it could lead to “unintended escalation” of relations between both countries.
The US National Security Spokesperson John Kirby said on CNN that the US will “monitor” the trilateral drills to ensure that there is “no threat resulting from this training exercise to [the US’] national security interest.”
The current trilateral exercises are the third such drills conducted by Russia, China and Iran. The previous one took place last year, and before that in 2019.