Trump unfazed as Russia, China join Iran for naval drill

Image from video provide by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on March 18, 2023, shows warships during a Russia, China and Iran joint naval exercise in the Arabian Sea.
Image from video provide by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on March 18, 2023, shows warships during a Russia, China and Iran joint naval exercise in the Arabian Sea.

Warships from Russia and China entered Iran's territorial waters ahead of joint naval exercises set to begin Tuesday, a move dismissed by US President Donald Trump as inconsequential.

The Security Belt-2025 drills, taking place annually near the Iranian southeastern port of Chabahar, in the northern part of the Indian Ocean, mark the fifth such exercise between the three nations since 2019, showcasing their deepening military ties amidst geopolitical tensions.

Asked on Sunday if the drills concerned him, Trump told Fox News, “No. Not at all. We’re stronger than all of them. We have more power than all of them. I rebuilt the military.”

The exercises involve warships and support vessels from the Iranian Navy and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, alongside Russian and Chinese naval forces. Observers from Azerbaijan, South Africa, Oman, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Qatar, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and Sri Lanka are also present.

Russia's Defense Ministry confirmed the participation of 15 combat ships, support vessels, and gunboats, as well as helicopters. China deployed a guided-missile destroyer and a supply ship.

The drills will include simulated attacks on maritime targets, search and seizure operations, and search and rescue exercises.

The location of the drills, the Gulf of Oman, is a critical waterway for global oil trade, linking the Indian Ocean to the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf.

This year's exercises come at a time of heightened tensions in the region, with Trump recently reiterating his "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran, aimed at curbing its nuclear program.

The US maintains a significant military presence in the region, with its Fifth Fleet based in Bahrain.