Naval
forces from Iran, Russia and China started a large-scale maritime exercise in
the northern part of Indian Ocean and Sea of Oman on Friday, 27th December 2019.The
joint exercise is being viewed by some analysts as a show of power and
solidarity between Iran, China and Russia. The exercise, named “Marine Security
Belt”, will last for four days and cover 17,000 square kilometers and consist
of "various tactical exercises"
Earlier, speaking
at a news conference on Wednesday, Iranian Armed Forces Brigadier General Abolfazl
Shekarchi said it was important and vital that security should be established
in Indian Ocean and Sea of Oman. Indian Ocean and Sea of Oman are among the world's
key trade routes and many countries commute in the (two) regions and therefore
establishing security there is important and vital, said Shekarchi.
Iranian
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Friday that the joint military
exercises show that Iran and its partners are committed to secure vital
waterways. “Our joint military drills in Oman Sea/Indian Ocean with Russian and
Chinese partners make clear our broader commitment to secure vital waterways,”
Zarif added. Iran has been insisting that it is ready to work with its
neighbors on the southern shores of the Persian Gulf to secure maritime trade
in the region based on the Hormuz peace initiative. “Iran has long stated its
readiness to work with its neighbors to secure the Persian Gulf.
Since the
victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979, it is the first time that
the country has staged such a large-scale drill participated with two huge
naval powers in the world. Certainly those countries share security, economic,
political, and defense interests and try to restore collective security in the
region. Reinvigoration of international maritime trade, countering piracy,
exchange of information and experiences in various fields including maritime
rescue and relief are among the main objectives of the drill.
Rear Admiral
Tahani said peace, friendship and sustainable security under collective unity
and cooperation are the main messages of the current naval drill. The
message of this exercise is peace, friendship and lasting security through
cooperation and unity … and its effect will be to show that Iran cannot be
isolated.
China has
sent a guided-missile destroyer to the four-day drills, which it called a
"normal military exchange" between the three armed forces. It is not
necessarily connected with the regional situation. China has close diplomatic,
trade and energy ties with Iran, which has friendly ties with Russia.
Russia had
sent three ships from its Baltic Fleet - a frigate, a tanker, and a rescue tug
boat - to take part in the drills. It is believed that Russia is participating
for the first time in such drills, being held in such a format.
The drills are
being held at a time that the United States is resorting to every ploy to
pressure Iran and isolate it in the world. It sends a clear signal to the
United States that the Iran issue should be addressed through negotiations
based on the previous deal rather than military actions. The US should stop
fanning the flames.
Certain
quarters say that the drill was in response to recent US maneuvers with its
regional ally Saudi Arabia. The trilateral drills are the first of its kind and
being held at a time when Iran is facing unprecedented sanctions from the US.
The joint drills are likely to be perceived as provocative by Washington.
