Iran, Russia, China Set Joint Naval Drills for February

Iran has announced that its naval forces, in collaboration with China and Russia, will conduct a major joint military exercise this February. The announcement, made on Saturday, January 31, 2026, marks the eighth edition of the "Maritime Security Belt" maneuvers.

The exercises are scheduled to take place in the northern Indian Ocean and will feature units from the Iranian Navy, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, and specialized naval detachments from both Beijing and Moscow.

First launched in 2019 at the initiative of Tehran, the "Maritime Security Belt" series has become a cornerstone of the burgeoning strategic alliance between the three nations. According to military officials, the primary objectives of the drills are to bolster the security of international maritime trade, combat piracy, and refine coordinated search-and-rescue and counter-terrorism operations at sea.

Geopolitical analysts suggest that the timing and scale of these maneuvers reflect a growing effort by the three powers to provide a strategic counterweight to Western naval dominance. By securing critical shipping lanes in the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean, the participating nations aim to demonstrate a unified front in maintaining regional stability independent of U.S.-led maritime coalitions.

The drills come amid a period of heightened international tension, highlighting the deepening military cooperation between Tehran, Moscow, and Beijing as they seek to safeguard common economic interests and navigate a shifting global order.