The eighth Security Belt exercise will be held in the northern Indian Ocean region in February with the participation of units from the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy, the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, and the Chinese and Russian naval forces.
This Security Belt naval exercise began in 2019 at the initiative of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy and has been held seven times so far.
It is aimed at bolstering the security of global maritime trade. The joint efforts of the three countries’ navies have included countering piracy, fighting maritime terrorism, and coordinating naval rescue operations.
Experts have long perceived the drills as a reflection of the increasingly robust partnership among the three powers, as they strive to counterbalance US dominance and challenge the Western-led global order.