Russia and China Naval Vessels Enter Strait of Hormuz for Joint Drills with Iran

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, naval vessels from Russia and China have been dispatched to the Strait of Hormuz to participate in joint maritime exercises with Iran. This deployment is part of a coordinated initiative involving Moscow, Tehran, and Beijing.

Nikolay Patrushev, Assistant to the President of Russia, stated in an interview with the newspaper “Argumenty i Fakty” that the three countries will take part in the “Maritime Security Belt 2026” exercises to be held in the Strait of Hormuz. The drills are slated to commence in late February.

The “Maritime Security Belt” naval exercises were initiated in 2019 at the behest of Iran’s Navy. The stated objectives for these exercises include enhancing the security of global maritime trade, conducting joint anti-piracy operations, combating maritime terrorism, and executing search and rescue missions.