On March 11, 2025, China, Iran, and Russia commenced joint naval drills named Maritime Security Belt 2025, situated near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s major shipping lanes. Over these two days, the exercises, which took place off the coast near the Iranian port of Chabahar, were characterized as efforts to strengthen cooperation among the naval forces of the involved countries.
This marked the fifth consecutive year of military drills involving these three nations, exhibiting their increasingly close military ties amid Western sanctions and geopolitical tensions. These drills highlight the deepening collaboration between China, Iran, and Russia, particularly as the West grapples with the repercussions of U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump, which has included reduced military commitments abroad.
According to reports from China’s CGTN news network, the exercises involved engaging maritime targets, conducting damage control, and performing joint search and rescue operations. "Over the course of two days, the ships’ crews conducted daytime and nighttime fire from large-caliber machine guns and small arms at targets simulating unmanned boats and unmanned aerial vehicles of a mock enemy," stated Russia’s Interfax news agency, citing the Russian Ministry of Defence.
Observers from several nations, including Azerbaijan, South Africa, Oman, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Qatar, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and Sri Lanka, were present to witness the drills. Although historically, the waters of the Gulf haven’t seen much activity from Chinese and Russian naval forces, the increasing militarization of maritime routes reflects the shifting strategic approaches from these nations.
Recent tensions have arisen from the Houthi militia's actions, which escalated following their attacks on vessels linked to Israel earlier this year. While these attacks paused during the ceasefire initiated between Hamas and Israel, threats of renewed military operations hang over the region, contingent on the actions of Israel concerning the blockade of Gaza.
This backdrop of heightened military activity occurs alongside renewed discussions on the Iran nuclear deal. President Trump announced he had reached out to Iranian leadership, aiming to revive talks around the controversial agreement from which he unilaterally withdrew during his first term. Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, has expressed skepticism about U.S. intentions, remarking, "Some bully governments insist on negotiations... But their negotiations are not aimed at solving issues, but to dominate and impose their own expectations.”
While Israel is believed to possess around ninety nuclear warheads, Iran asserts it has yet to develop nuclear weapons of its own. This disparity underlines the delicate balance of power as negotiations take shape against the backdrop of military alliances and exercises.
Overall, the Maritime Security Belt 2025 drills not only signify military collaboration but also reflect the shared political agendas of China, Iran, and Russia as they navigate through rising tensions with Western nations. The world watches closely as these nations align more closely, potentially reshaping geopolitical landscapes and strategies for years to come.