Iran, China and Russia start annual naval exercises in the middle of Trump

Iran, China and Russia start annual naval exercises in the middle of Trump

In the Gulf of Oman, military ships from Iran, China and Russia started their annual exercises on Monday. This is a visible sign of the military ties of these countries, while US President Donald Trump confuses the long-standing western alliances.

The meaning of the "Security Belt-2025" exercises

The "Security Belt-2025" Exercises that take place near Iranian port Chabahar are the fifth joint naval exercises that Iran, China and Russia have held since 2019, as Chinese state media report. These exercises have long been interpreted as a demonstration of the growing partnership among the three authoritarian powers that aim to compensate for the influence of the USA and to challenge the global order guided by the western powers.

political backgrounds and challenges

This year the optical impressions are even more pronounced, since Trump disturbs the transatlantic alliance, which has been a cornerstone of western security structures for decades. This happens while he hug Russia in a conflict towards Ukraine and asks Asian allies to pay more for US protection.

When he was asked about the exercises on the Sunday, Trump said that he was “not” concerned about the demonstration of the strength by the three US offices. "We are stronger than everyone. We have more power than everyone," he said in an interview with Fox News.

The strategic partnership between authoritarian states

In Washington there are growing concerns about the resulting strategic partnership between China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, which describe the US legislators as "axis of authoritarianism", "axis of the autocrats" and "axis of the dictators". The fear is that a common hostility to the United States will increasingly get together to work together - which is not only in a region, but perhaps in several parts of the world at the same time.

At the same time, Trump openly hugged Russian President Vladimir Putin and was trying to end the war in Ukraine by talking directly to Moscow while leaving Kiev and the European allies in uncertain.

collaboration between Russia and North Korea

The military relationship between Russia and North Korea has increased significantly last year by signing the two of them a mutual defense agreement. Pyongyang also sent his troops to fight for Moscow in the Ukraine conflict.

regional tensions and US presence

The exercises also take place between the USA and Iran in a time. Since returning to the White House, Trump has restored his so-called "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran, which aims to push the country's oil exports to zero in order to prevent Tehran from purchasing a nuclear weapon-a step that is called "extortion" by Tehran.

The Gulf of Oman is an important access that connects the Indian ocean with the Hormuz street through which more than a quarter of the worldwide -transported oil trade flows. The United States has a significant presence in the region with the fifth fleet, which is stationed in Bahrain.

Details on the common naval exercises

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that 15 combat ships, support ships and quick boats as well as helicopters are involved in the joint naval exercises. "On the Russian side, the Korvetten Rezky and the" Russian Held "Aldar Tsydenzhapov and the Tanker Pechenega from the Pacific fleet are represented", the report is cited.

china brought the destroyer of the type 052D Baotou and the supply ship Gaoyouhu from a nearby naval management group to participate in the exercise, as the Chinese Ministry of Defense announced in a statement. The exercises that aim to "strengthen military trust and intensify practical cooperation" include simulated attacks on maritime goals, boarding, search and rescue operations, according to the ministry. Iran sent a stealth misson ship and a patrol ship, as Iranian state media report.