Russia, China, Iran wrap up active phase of joint naval maneuvers in Gulf of Oman
The international naval maneuvers Maritime Security Belt have been held for the sixth time
MOSCOW, March 14. /TASS/. Warships from the Russian, Chinese and Iranian navies have wrapped up the active phase of their joint naval exercise Maritime Security Belt 2024 in the Gulf of Oman, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Thursday.
"The crews of the Russian Pacific Fleet’s warships - the Guards missile cruiser Varyag and the frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov - have successfully completed accomplishing objectives of the active phase of the international naval exercise Maritime Security Belt 2024 in the Gulf of Oman and have arrived in the Iranian port of Chabahar," the ministry said in a statement.
During two days of the drills, Russian naval sailors practiced missions together with their Iranian and Chinese counterparts to carry out joint maneuvering, hold a communications exercise, fire large-caliber machineguns and small-caliber artillery against surface and aerial targets day and night, and also practiced freeing a vessel seized by pirates, it specified.
"Today, the results of the exercise will be summed up and an official closing ceremony will be held in the city of Chabahar with the participation of the personnel from Iran, China and Russia and the observer countries - Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Oman, India and South Africa," the ministry added.
The international naval maneuvers Maritime Security Belt have been held for the sixth time. They ran for the first time in the waters of the Arabian Sea in the Indian Ocean in 2018. Combat ships from the Russian, Chinese and Iranian navies participate in the maneuvers on a constant basis.
This year, the joint naval maneuvers involved more than 20 combat ships, support vessels and gunboats from the Russian, Iranian and Chinese navies. Naval aviation helicopters were broadly employed in the drills. The naval maneuvers aimed to practice measures for ensuring the safety of maritime economic activity.
Representatives of the navies of Azerbaijan, India, Kazakhstan, Oman, Pakistan and the South African Republic took part in the naval maneuvers as observers for the first time.