“Maritime Security Belt”: what geopolitical significance do military exercises of Russia, Iran and China

On Friday, December 27, the four-day joint military exercises of the Sea Safety Belt begin in Russia, Iran and China. Maneuvers will take place in the northern Indian Ocean. This was announced by the official representative of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic Abolfazl Shekarchi.

“The Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea are considered key areas in international trade, so ensuring the security of this region is vital,” Iranian news agency IRNA Shekarchi quotes.

According to him, another goal of the upcoming joint maneuvers is to counter terrorism and piracy.

The representative of the Iranian Armed Forces also said that Tehran has already shown its interest in establishing a high level of security in the region. As Iranian Ambassador to the Russian Federation Kazem Jalali noted in an interview with RIA Novosti, this plays an important role in building up the economic partnership between Iran and Russia.

The starting point of the current exercises will be the naval base of the port of Konarek, located on the coast of the Gulf of Oman. This was reported by Akharin Khabar agency with reference to the Deputy Coordinator of the Armed Forces of Iran, Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayari. According to him, for strategic ships of the Navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran it is extremely important to conduct such maneuvers with the combat ships of such powers as the Russian Federation and China.

At the end of November, the commander of the Iranian Navy, Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi, said that the joint exercises will be held as part of the naval symposium of the Indian Ocean, including to strengthen coordination of naval forces.

The Russian side confirmed its participation in the maneuvers in early October. This was announced by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club.

"We are preparing with the PRC and Iran naval exercises to combat terrorists and pirates in this part of the Indian Ocean (in the Persian Gulf. - RT )," said the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

• Sergey Lavrov
• RIA News
• © Vladimir Fedorenko

A week before the start of the Sea Safety Belt maneuvers, the Baltic Fleet press service reported that a detachment of Russian warships, following exercises with India in the Arabian Sea, headed for Iran. The statement stated that the patrol ship Yaroslav the Wise, the sea tug Viktor Konetskiy and the tanker Yelnya headed for the shores of the Islamic Republic.

An official representative of the Ministry of Defense of the People's Republic of China, Wu Qian, at a monthly briefing announced the participation in the exercises of the Chinese side. The exercises will involve the Xining missile destroyer.

The Pentagon said they would be watching the progress of these exercises. This was reported by TASS with reference to the official representative of the American defense department, Sean Robertson.

“We will observe this and continue to work with our partners and allies to ensure freedom of navigation and free trade flow on international waterways,” he said.

"Healthy alternative"

The joint exercises of Russia, China and Iran are an important step towards the creation of a security system in the Persian Gulf, experts say.

Back in July, the Russian Foreign Ministry introduced the concept of collective security in the region, within the framework of which it proposed creating a common anti-terrorism coalition under the auspices of the UN, as well as an organization for security and cooperation in the Persian Gulf zone. The document also emphasized that tensions have not subsided in the region “over the past decades”.

According to Moscow, the formation of the security system should be carried out in stages, "starting with the solution of the most acute and urgent problems," including resolving the crisis in Yemen, Syria and Iraq and fulfilling the terms of the "nuclear deal", which the United States has already abandoned.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif at a joint press conference following talks with Sergei Lavrov said Iran welcomes the Russian proposal. According to the politician, the views of Tehran and Moscow on security in the Persian Gulf are "very close."

Later, in early October, Russian President Vladimir Putin, at a meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club, specified that in addition to the states of the region, Russia, the USA, the EU, China and other countries can join the international organization to solve problems in the Persian Gulf, in addition to the states of the region.

“We propose to put aside the accumulated prejudices, mutual claims and, in fact, from scratch try to create an organization for security and cooperation in this region,” the Russian leader said.

Experts, in turn, have already called the maneuvers "Marine Safety Belt", which will be held for the first time, "a step towards establishing the situation in the region."

“Here, the ability to coordinate joint actions in a coherent and cohesive manner is important. Therefore, these teachings are important in order to organize truly international resistance to terrorism. Because individually, countries will not be able to cope with this problem - it is imperative to combine efforts, ”said Alexander Vavilov, professor at Moscow State University and Middle East expert, in an interview with RT.

• Iranian Navy Ship in the Gulf of Oman
• AFP
• © ATTA KENARE

However, he noted that the scenario of the exercises "may be the most diverse."

“He can assume the presence of a conditional enemy, and the landing. All this speaks of thorough preparation of the armed forces for joint resistance to terrorists, ”the expert noted.

A similar point of view is shared by Vladimir Batyuk, the chief researcher at the Institute of the USA and Canada.

The analyst recalled that Russia and China have long been conducting joint naval exercises, but Iran is connected to them for the first time.

“Methods will be developed to counter both terrorist attacks on civilian ships and pirate attacks on merchant ships,” the analyst predicted in a conversation with RT.

Rapprochement factor

According to experts, conducting joint exercises is especially important against the backdrop of growing tensions between the United States and Iran.

Recall, Washington accused Iran of assaulting Saudi oil facilities on September 14, despite the fact that the Hussite Yemeni rebels claimed responsibility for the incident. According to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Tehran "launched an unprecedented attack on global energy supplies." Iranian Defense Minister Amir Khatami, in turn, rejected the allegations.

In addition, the American side is increasing military activity in the region. So, in the summer of Washington announced the formation of the International Maritime Security Construct under the auspices of the United States. In November, this association conducted the Operation Sentinel naval operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran is concerned about the military presence of the United States in the region, as the policy of the Islamic Republic is based on independence from other powers. This was stated by the head of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations of Iran Kamal Kharrazi at a meeting with the Ambassador of China to the Republic of Chan Hua.

As noted by Alexander Vavilov, the joint exercises “Belt of maritime security” were also a reaction to the buildup of military activity by the United States.

“The United States is not only aggravating the situation by supplying its weapons and military force to the region, but also ignoring the initiative of the Russian side to create a security system in this zone. At the same time, Washington is creating its own union, but Tehran immediately declared the need to form a coalition not under the American, but under the international auspices, ”Vavilov explained in a conversation with RT.

He also emphasized that joint exercises are of tremendous importance for normalizing the tense situation in the Persian Gulf.

“The strategic importance of the exercises is due to the fact that recently, through the efforts of the United States, the Gulf zone, including the Oman Sea, has become a platform for a very serious conflict. Therefore, taking into account all this situation, these exercises serve as a sound alternative to the world community. Instead of escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf, Russia, China and Iran, unlike the United States, offer to rally their efforts to counter terrorism and all sorts of attempts to destabilize the situation, ”Vavilov emphasizes.

• Opening ceremony of the International Maritime Safety Coalition in Bahrain
• AFP
• © MAZEN MAHDI

A similar point of view is shared by Vladimir Batyuk.

"The joint exercises are aimed at combating terrorism and piracy, but Washington will take these maneuvers as a signal that demonstrates that Iran will not be left alone in the event of direct aggression against the republic, because Tehran has partners who are ready to support it," the analyst said.

At the same time, according to his forecast, Moscow, Tehran and Beijing will continue to increase cooperation in the field of establishing a security system in the Persian Gulf.

“This is the first experience that will continue to develop. Russia and China, as the closest allies, will deepen cooperation. And Iran is becoming increasingly involved in this process, ”Vavilov said.

Vladimir Batyuk, in turn, argues that the three states see each other as important partners in world security.

“Both Russia and Iran are de facto allies in the fight against the terrorist threat. China also directly faced this problem. In addition, all three states strongly disagree with American hegemony in the world. They stand for a polycentric world. And this, of course, is a very important factor in the rapprochement of the three states, ”the expert concluded.