In an effort to strengthen ties with Beijing and Tehran, Russia announced on Wednesday that it had begun naval exercises in the Arabian Sea with China and Iran.
The trilateral exercises known as the “Marine Security Belt 2023” have begun close to the Iranian port of Chabahar, according to a statement from the Russian defense ministry.
On Thursday and Friday, the naval portion of the drills will take place.
Russia will be addressed by the Naval commander Gorshkov frigate and a medium-sized big hauler, the service said.
According to the statement, the ships will engage in “joint maneuvers and will carry out artillery firing in the daytime and at night” during the naval drills.
After sending troops to Ukraine a year ago, which resulted in multiple rounds of Western sanctions that were unprecedented, President Vladimir Putin has sought to strengthen political, economic, and military ties with China and Iran.