On Tuesday, China, Iran, and Russia held joint naval drills in the Middle East. This show of strength comes at a time when people are worried about Iran’s growing nuclear program and the threats from Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who are planning to attack ships. The drills, called the Maritime Security Belt 2025, took place in the Gulf of Oman, close to the important Strait of Hormuz where a lot of the world’s oil passes through.
This event was the fifth time these three countries worked together in such drills. Just before the drills, the British military warned about GPS problems in the strait, which may have been caused by interference designed to help avoid targeting by drones and missiles. There have been similar reports of GPS issues in the area before, usually when tensions are high.
Russia sent several naval ships, including the corvettes Rezky and Aldar Tsydenzhapov, and China sent the guided-missile destroyer Baotou and the supply ship Gaoyouhu. These countries do not usually patrol the Middle East waters, which are mainly managed by the US Navy. Other countries like Azerbaijan, Iraq, and Qatar also watched the drills, likely noting the U.S. presence too.
China is still buying oil from Iran, even though it’s facing Western sanctions, while Russia relies on Iran for drones in its war with Ukraine. The joint drills are significant for Iran as they show strength after an Israeli attack on its military sites. Iran is increasing its stockpile of uranium at levels close to weapons-grade, even though it says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. Both the U.S. and Israel have warned Iran against developing a bomb.
Meanwhile, Yemen’s Houthi rebels are threatening to attack ships in nearby waters again, citing aid issues in Gaza. They have previously attacked over 100 ships and warned that actual attacks could resume soon if their demands are not met.
