China, Russia and Iran have begun joint naval drills in the Gulf of Oman amid increased tensions in the region, in what is the fifth common military exercise held by these countries in recent years.

China, Russia, Iran launch joint naval drills in Gulf of Oman

A public relations officer from Iran's armed forces told country's semi-offical ISNA news agency that China, Russia and Iran will be held on Friday (January 21).

The "2022 Marine Security Belt" exercise will take place in the north of the Indian Ocean and is the third joint naval drill between the three countries, Mostafa Tajoldin added.

Iran's hardline President Ebrahim Raisi has pursued a "look east" policy since coming to office in June. He has sought to deepen ties with Russia and China.&nbsp;

Tehran joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in September, a central Asian security body led by Beijing and Moscow.

Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian visited China last week and Iran`s president was meeting his Russian counterpart in Moscow on Thursday.

China, Russia and Iran started joint naval drills in 2019, and will continue them in the future, Tajoldin said.

"The purpose of this drill is to strengthen security and its foundations in the region, and to expand multilateral cooperation between the three countries to jointly support world peace, maritime security and create a maritime community with a common future," the Iranian official told ISNA.

Both navies from Iran`s armed forces and Revolutionary Guards will take part in the drills, which include various tactical exercises such as rescuing a burning vessel, releasing a hijacked vessel, and shooting at air targets at night.

(With inputs from agencies)

A public relations officer from Iran's armed forces told country's semi-offical ISNA news agency that China, Russia and Iran will be held on Friday (January 21).

A public relations officer from Iran's armed forces told country's semi-offical ISNA news agency that China, Russia and Iran will be held on Friday (January 21). The "2022 Marine Security Belt" exercise will take place in the north of the Indian Ocean and is the third joint naval drill between the three countries, Mostafa Tajoldin added. Iran's hardline President Ebrahim Raisi has pursued a "look east" policy since coming to office in June. He has sought to deepen ties with Russia and China. Tehran joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in September, a central Asian security body led by Beijing and Moscow. Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian visited China last week and Iran`s president was meeting his Russian counterpart in Moscow on Thursday. China, Russia and Iran started joint naval drills in 2019, and will continue them in the future, Tajoldin said. "The purpose of this drill is to strengthen security and its foundations in the region, and to expand multilateral cooperation between the three countries to jointly support world peace, maritime security and create a maritime community with a common future," the Iranian official told ISNA. Both navies from Iran`s armed forces and Revolutionary Guards will take part in the drills, which include various tactical exercises such as rescuing a burning vessel, releasing a hijacked vessel, and shooting at air targets at night. (With inputs from agencies)

China-Russia-Iran trilateral naval drills to be held on Friday

At a time when Iran and Russia are at loggerheads with the US and the European Union (EU), Tehran's armed forces on Tuesday launched a joint naval drill with Moscow in the north of the Indian Ocean designed to 'enhance security' of maritime trade, state television reported.&nbsp;

The 'Maritime Security Belt Exercise' is to cover an area of 17,000 square kilometres (6,500 square miles) and include units from the Iranian army and the elite Revolutionary Guards as well as Russia's navy, the broadcaster quoted drill spokesman Rear Admiral Gholamreza Tahani as saying.&nbsp;

"The purposes of this drill are to enhance security of international maritime trade, confront maritime piracy and terrorism, and exchange information," he added.&nbsp;

Russia's Baltic Fleet said in a statement on Monday that three ships will take part in the drill.&nbsp;

Exercises will include 'liberating a commercial ship abducted by pirates', and fighting fires, it said.&nbsp;

According to Tahani, the Indian navy will also join the exercise, in a message of 'peace and friendship for neighbouring and regional countries'. &nbsp;

Iran's state news agency IRNA said the drill is to last three days.&nbsp;

The Iranian army said the exercises will also 'expand bilateral relations' with Russia.&nbsp;

Iran, China and Russia held a similar drill in the area in 2019, and the Islamic republic participated in 'Caucus 2020' drills held in Russia last September.&nbsp;

At a time when Iran and Russia are at loggerheads with the US and the European Union (EU), Tehran's armed forces on Tuesday launched a joint naval drill with Moscow in the north of the Indian Ocean designed to 'enhance security' of maritime trade, state television reported.

At a time when Iran and Russia are at loggerheads with the US and the European Union (EU), Tehran's armed forces on Tuesday launched a joint naval drill with Moscow in the north of the Indian Ocean designed to 'enhance security' of maritime trade, state television reported. The 'Maritime Security Belt Exercise' is to cover an area of 17,000 square kilometres (6,500 square miles) and include units from the Iranian army and the elite Revolutionary Guards as well as Russia's navy, the broadcaster quoted drill spokesman Rear Admiral Gholamreza Tahani as saying. "The purposes of this drill are to enhance security of international maritime trade, confront maritime piracy and terrorism, and exchange information," he added. Russia's Baltic Fleet said in a statement on Monday that three ships will take part in the drill. Exercises will include 'liberating a commercial ship abducted by pirates', and fighting fires, it said. According to Tahani, the Indian navy will also join the exercise, in a message of 'peace and friendship for neighbouring and regional countries'. Iran's state news agency IRNA said the drill is to last three days. The Iranian army said the exercises will also 'expand bilateral relations' with Russia. Iran, China and Russia held a similar drill in the area in 2019, and the Islamic republic participated in 'Caucus 2020' drills held in Russia last September.

Iran, Russia begin joint naval drill in Indian Ocean to 'enhance security'

The United States,<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/stop-it-japans-smartphone-app-to-scare-off-molesters-become-smash-hit-220532"> Japan</a>, South Korea and Australia have kicked off "first-of-its-kind" naval drills near Guam, the US Navy said Thursday, amid mounting tensions with China and North Korea.

The "Pacific Vanguard" drill brings together more than 3,000 sailors from the four countries to "sharpen skills and strengthen practical cooperation at sea," the US Seventh Fleet said in a statement.

The drills will focus on "live fire exercises, defensive counter-air operations, anti-submarine warfare, and replenishment at sea," added the statement.

Australia has contributed two frigates to the exercise, Japan two destroyers and South Korea one destroyer. The USS Blue Ridge, the Seventh Fleet's flagship, will lead the operation from the US side.

With trade tensions growing between Washington and Beijing, China earlier this week denounced a US warship sail-by near disputed islands in the South China Sea.

And Guam, home to more than 160,000 people, was at the centre of nuclear tensions between Washington and Pyongyang in 2017, with<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/missiles-like-these-will-start-the-war-north-korea-tests-showcase-growing-capability-217458"> North Korea threatening </a>to hit the US territory with "enveloping fire".

The United States, Japan, South Korea and Australia have kicked off "first-of-its-kind" naval drills near Guam, the US Navy said Thursday, amid mounting tensions with China and North Korea.

The United States, Japan, South Korea and Australia have kicked off "first-of-its-kind" naval drills near Guam, the US Navy said Thursday, amid mounting tensions with China and North Korea. The "Pacific Vanguard" drill brings together more than 3,000 sailors from the four countries to "sharpen skills and strengthen practical cooperation at sea," the US Seventh Fleet said in a statement. The drills will focus on "live fire exercises, defensive counter-air operations, anti-submarine warfare, and replenishment at sea," added the statement. Australia has contributed two frigates to the exercise, Japan two destroyers and South Korea one destroyer. The USS Blue Ridge, the Seventh Fleet's flagship, will lead the operation from the US side. With trade tensions growing between Washington and Beijing, China earlier this week denounced a US warship sail-by near disputed islands in the South China Sea. And Guam, home to more than 160,000 people, was at the centre of nuclear tensions between Washington and Pyongyang in 2017, with North Korea threatening to hit the US territory with "enveloping fire".

US, Japan and South Korea start 'first-of-its-kind' naval drill

Beijing flexed its military muscle this week as its sole operational aircraft carrier apparently took part in a huge naval drill with dozens of other vessels in the South China Sea, satellite images showed.

The pictures, taken by Planet Labs Inc., appear to show the Liaoning carrier at the centre of a formation of more than 40 other ships lined up in pairs south of China's Hainan province island on Monday.

China's defence ministry refused to confirm whether the Liaoning took part in drills this week but military experts say the aircraft carrier is identifiable.

Six submarines and two J-15 fighter jets appear to lead the "naval parade", James Char, a military expert at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, told.

"Such a formation serves more of as a visual spectacle with the Liaoning the status symbol of the PLA (People's Liberation Army)," Char said.

"This formation is unlikely to be used in actual combat situations," he said, adding that he would "not be surprised" if it was purposely aimed at being picked up by satellite images.

The show of force emerged days after Taiwan said that the Liaoning and other vessels had passed through the Taiwan Strait on March 20 - the same day that Chinese President Xi Jinping warned against any attempts to divide China.

Beijing has also been asserting its vast claims to the South China Sea, transforming reefs into islands capable of hosting military equipment.

Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan have their own claims to the sea, while US warships regularly conduct "freedom of navigation" operations near islands controlled by Beijing.

"We can expect the (Chinese naval) presence in the South China Sea becoming more regular, especially with the increase in freedom of navigation patrols by the United States as well as other countries," Char said.

Jeffrey Lewis, of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, said that while it was a "large naval drill", past photos have shown the carrier "travelling in such a formation."

"It was probably transiting to a location," he said.

In another picture taken by Planet Labs on Tuesday, the Liaoning is seen south of Hainan island's Yulin Naval Base, but no longer information with other ships.

Defence ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang confirmed on Thursday that the Navy has conducted a "routine" drill in the South China Sea to improve the military's "capability to win wars".

"It is not targeted at any specific country or target," Ren told reporters, without saying how many and which ships were involved.

Separately, the air force had announced on Sunday that aircraft, including H-6K bombers and Su-35 fighter jets, had recently participated in a joint combat patrol mission in the South China Sea, according to the official Xinhua news agency, without giving more details.

China's government announced earlier this month an 8.1 per cent increase in military spending to 1.11 trillion yuan ($175 billion). 
The Liaoning is a Soviet-era vessel that was bought from Ukraine, refitted and commissioned in 2012.

Last year, China unveiled its first domestically-built aircraft carrier, which will carry J-15 fighters that will take off from a raised "ski jump" platform. It has yet to be put into operation.

China's defence ministry refused to confirm whether the Liaoning took part in drills this week but military experts say the aircraft carrier is identifiable

Beijing flexed its military muscle this week as its sole operational aircraft carrier apparently took part in a huge naval drill with dozens of other vessels in the South China Sea, satellite images showed. The pictures, taken by Planet Labs Inc., appear to show the Liaoning carrier at the centre of a formation of more than 40 other ships lined up in pairs south of China's Hainan province island on Monday. China's defence ministry refused to confirm whether the Liaoning took part in drills this week but military experts say the aircraft carrier is identifiable. Six submarines and two J-15 fighter jets appear to lead the "naval parade", James Char, a military expert at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, told. "Such a formation serves more of as a visual spectacle with the Liaoning the status symbol of the PLA (People's Liberation Army)," Char said. "This formation is unlikely to be used in actual combat situations," he said, adding that he would "not be surprised" if it was purposely aimed at being picked up by satellite images. The show of force emerged days after Taiwan said that the Liaoning and other vessels had passed through the Taiwan Strait on March 20 - the same day that Chinese President Xi Jinping warned against any attempts to divide China. Beijing has also been asserting its vast claims to the South China Sea, transforming reefs into islands capable of hosting military equipment. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan have their own claims to the sea, while US warships regularly conduct "freedom of navigation" operations near islands controlled by Beijing. "We can expect the (Chinese naval) presence in the South China Sea becoming more regular, especially with the increase in freedom of navigation patrols by the United States as well as other countries," Char said. Jeffrey Lewis, of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, said that while it was a "large naval drill", past photos have shown the carrier "travelling in such a formation." "It was probably transiting to a location," he said. In another picture taken by Planet Labs on Tuesday, the Liaoning is seen south of Hainan island's Yulin Naval Base, but no longer information with other ships. Defence ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang confirmed on Thursday that the Navy has conducted a "routine" drill in the South China Sea to improve the military's "capability to win wars". "It is not targeted at any specific country or target," Ren told reporters, without saying how many and which ships were involved. Separately, the air force had announced on Sunday that aircraft, including H-6K bombers and Su-35 fighter jets, had recently participated in a joint combat patrol mission in the South China Sea, according to the official Xinhua news agency, without giving more details. China's government announced earlier this month an 8.1 per cent increase in military spending to 1.11 trillion yuan ($175 billion). The Liaoning is a Soviet-era vessel that was bought from Ukraine, refitted and commissioned in 2012. Last year, China unveiled its first domestically-built aircraft carrier, which will carry J-15 fighters that will take off from a raised "ski jump" platform. It has yet to be put into operation.

China's aircraft carrier spotted in huge naval drill

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