China, Iran, Russia: Joint naval exercises in the Gulf of Oman

From 15 to 19 March 2023, units from the Chinese, Iranian and Russian navies conducted a joint naval manoeuvre in the area between Muscat (Oman) and Chahbahar (Iran). According to a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defence, ten units took part in the "Maritime Safety Belt" exercise: China provided the destroyer 155 "Nanjing" (Type 052D), Russia the frigate "Admiral Gorshkov" and its tanker "Kama", Iran the frigates "Sahand" and "Jamaran", the corvette "Bayandor", the missile boat "Tondar", the small missile ship "Zerekh", additionally the supply ship "Sirzhan" and transporter "Shahid Nazeri", as well as other ships and watercraft. According to Iranian sources, the naval component of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) was also among the participants with smaller ships and helicopters. "Maritime Safety Belt" is the third edition (after 2019, 2022) of naval exercises between the three nations. According to Russian reports, artillery firing, anti-piracy and minesweeping operations and sea rescue were practised.

Iranian frigate "Jamaran" (type ship) firing a SSM Noor/Ghader-FK. Photo: State media

Seat belt - for whom or what?

China is reviving its political and military relations with nations that are criticised by the Western community. Iran is increasingly coming into focus halfway along the Belt and Road (New Silk Road). Beijing and Tehran signed a 25-year cooperation agreement in March 2023 during the visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian to China. China also emphasised its growing international role, particularly in this region, with the rapprochement it brokered between Tehran and Riyadh.

This exercise project is another example of the growing Chinese naval presence in the Indian Ocean. China has maintained a military base in Djibouti since 2017 and announced in January 2023 that it intends to build a spaceport there. It maintains close relations with countries in the western Indian Ocean such as Kenya, Tanzania and Madagascar. The previous trilateral naval exercise with Russia and South Africa marked the southern cornerstone. The establishment of a military base in the harbour of Gwadar near the Iranian border is a sign of the expansion of relations with Pakistan. All of this is evidence of the growing Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean and is creating unrest in the strategic balance off the east coast of Africa. The destroyer "Nanjing" took part in the Pakistani exercise Aman-23 (early February) and represented the Chinese defence industry at this year's NAVDEX in Abu Dhabi (20-24 February).

In the Iran Since President Ebrahim Raisi took office in June 2021, a deepening of relations with both Beijing and Moscow can be observed. Iran is supporting Russia in the war against Ukraine with drones and other armaments.

"Admiral Gorshkov" with recognisable "Z" as a symbol for the war against Ukraine. Photo: Michael Nitz

The Russian frigate "Admiral Gorshkov" has been on a long-distance voyage with the tanker "Kama" since the end of last year. Both units were previously involved in the aforementioned trilateral exercise "Mosi II" in South Africa. The frigate is attracting widespread attention due to its armament with the hypersonic Zircon missile. However, the much-heralded launch of this weapon as global proof has yet to materialise. After a supply stop in Chahbahar, Iran, the convoy continued its journey towards the Mediterranean. According to earlier announcements, the "Admiral Gorshkov" will join the Russian Mediterranean Eskadra after individual units from this formation have been released to the Northern Fleet. A stopover in Sudan (Bur Sudan) is to be expected.