Monitoring Desk: Four-Day Joint Naval Exercises of Iran, Russia and China have concluded in Indian Ocean and the Oman Sea, reports Eurasian News.
Iran, Russia and China conducted joint naval maneuvers from December 27 to 30 in the northern Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. According to Eurasian News, this year, Pakistan—an all-time friend of China was not present in Naval Exercises.
Naval maneuvers called the “Maritime Safety Belt” with the participation of the forces of the three countries in the Indian Ocean and the Oman Sea conducted exercises, providing an opportunity to China and Russia to taste warm-waters of Indian Ocean.
Russian Eurasian News reported that Iran, Russia and China intend to continue to conduct joint military exercises in the future, said Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Iranian Army, Habibullah Sayari.
“The naval exercises of Iran, Russia and China in the northern Indian Ocean are certainly not the last,” Sayari’s words are quoted on the Iranian Army’s website.
According to him, during the ongoing exercises of the naval forces of the three countries, methods and approaches are being developed that will allow for future exercises.
He also noted that the military exercises of the three countries do not imply the intention of the states to create a coalition.
Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said the Beijing guided missile destroyer Xin was sent for training. Three Russian vessels also took part in the maneuvers.
The purpose of the maneuvers is to develop measures to combat terrorism and maritime piracy, as well as ensuring regional security.
Kazem Jalali, Iranian ambassador to Moscow, told Sputnik that the Iranian-Russian-Chinese joint naval exercises in the northern Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea are (were) aimed at developing various measures combating terrorism and maritime piracy, as well as ensuring security in the region.
Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said during his recent visit to Moscow that the training was not aimed at other countries.
