Russia, China, and Iran have deployed naval vessels to participate in upcoming joint military exercises scheduled to take place in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. According to Operative Information Center-OMM, citing foreign media reports, the "Security Belt 2026" maneuvers are characterized as an urgent initiative to bolster regional maritime cooperation.
The Iranian Tasnim News Agency previously reported that the eighth iteration of these joint naval drills will commence in late February in the northern part of the Indian Ocean. The exercises will feature a diverse array of assets, including vessels from the Iranian Navy, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, and the naval forces of China and Russia. The primary objectives of the drills include enhancing the security of global maritime trade, combating piracy, preventing maritime terrorism, and conducting search and rescue operations.
The "Security Belt" naval exercises have been held annually since 2019 at the initiative of the Iranian Navy. These maneuvers serve as a platform for the three nations to demonstrate military coordination in vital international waterways. The Strait of Hormuz, where the current drills are focused, is one of the world's most critical chokepoints, through which approximately one-fifth of the world's oil consumption passes. The timing of the exercise is significant, following Iran's recent "Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz" drills on February 16, conducted amid heightened regional tensions and the increased military presence of the United States in the Middle East.
