China, Russia and Iran to hold naval exercise in Arabian Sea

China, Russia and Iran will carry out naval drills in the Arabian Sea in what military analysts have called “power projection in action”.

The exercise, called Maritime Security Belt 2024, was announced yesterday, and will involve 20 vessels from the three navies.

During the drills, ships will fire live rounds at surface and aerial targets, leading to concerns of added risk in the event of miscalculation.

The second exercise held between the three countries in two years, it is aimed to “consolidate security and its foundations in the region and expand multilateral co-operation among the participating countries”, Iranian state media reported.

Military analyst Tim Ripley told The National that the fact that the three navies are able “to get so many ships so far from their home ports is power projection in action”.

“This demonstrates that the British and Americans are clearly not the only game in town in the Red Sea region,” he added. “Others have interests and they have a duty to take notice.”

For the live-fire drills, the fleets are likely to declare a temporary firing zone in international waters, warning shipping to keep away.

However, Mr Ripley warned, if anti-ship or surface-toair missiles are fired, the “template gets bigger and more dangerous” for possible accidents.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said the “practical part of the exercise will take place in the waters of the Gulf of Oman in the Arabian Sea”, without specifying other locations.

Last year, the three countries held a similar drill in the area, called Security Bond 2023.