March 13, 2024 (EIRNS)—A detachment of ships from Russia’s Pacific Fleet, including the cruiser Varyag and the frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov, are participating in the Sea Security Belt-2024 joint naval exercise with ships of the Iranian and Chinese navies, the Russian Defense Ministry reported yesterday. During the exercise, the combat ships of the three countries will jointly maneuver and conduct firing at surface and air targets, as well as hone elements to liberate a ship hijacked by pirates, it said. In total, the exercise involves more than 20 ships, support ships, and warships of the Russian Navy, the Iranian Navy, and PLA Navy. Naval aviation helicopters are also being widely used. For the first time, representatives of Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Oman, India, and South Africa will participate as observers in the exercise.
One of the goals of Sea Security Belt-2024, which has been an annual exercise since 2018, is a show of force, Iranian Defense Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani told reporters. “The exercises are held as a show of force. In these maneuvers, three major world powers are jointly rehearsing [efforts to] ensure stability in the region and security of important sea lanes,” he was quoted as saying by the Tasnim news agency, reported TASS.
