Marine Security Belt

Marine Security Belt[a], also known with the portmanteau CHIRU, is a trilateral naval exercise involving China, Iran and Russia as partners. First held in 2019, it is set to be taken place annually.

History

2019–20

The first edition of the exercise began on 27 December 2019 and took four days. The area of operation was the northern part of the Indian Ocean.[1][2]

The units participating in the exercise included:[3]

  • Iran Iran
    • Alborz (frigate)
    • Sahand (frigate)
    • Bayandor (corvette)
    • Tondar (hovercraft)
    • Shahid Naserinejad (auxiliary ship)
    • Shahid Nazeri (HARTH)
  • China China
    • Xining (destroyer)
  • Russia Russia

2021

China was absent in the second version of the exercise when it was started by Russia and Iran on 16 February 2021. It was later announced that the Indian and Chinese navies will also join, but neither eventually take part. On 18 February 2021, the official website of the Indian Navy issued a statement denying participation in the drill.[4] Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency reported that the Indian Navy had cancelled the plan at the last minute, because Tehran said China could join the exercise too and Indians did not want to be together with the Chinese due to recent border skirmishes.[5]

The units participating in the exercise included:[6]

  • Iran Iran
    • Jamaran (frigate)
    • Naghdi (corvette)
    • Falakhon (fast attack craft)
    • Shahid Nazeri (HARTH)
  • Russia Russia
    • Stoikiy (corvette)
    • Kola (replenishment ship)
    • Yakov Grebelsky (tugboat)

2022

The third version of the exercise was held in late January 2022 over an area of 17,000 square kilometres (6,560 square miles) in the northern Indian Ocean. It included a range of tactical exercises like putting out fires on burning vessels, releasing a hijacked vessel, and shooting at air targets at night.[7][8]

The units participating in the exercise included:[9]

  • Iran Iran
    • Dena (frigate)
    • Jamaran (frigate)
    • Naghdi (corvette)
    • Tabarzin (fast attack craft)
    • Zereh (fast attack craft)
    • Bahregan (auxiliary ship)
    • Ganaveh (auxiliary ship)
    • Shahid Nazeri (HARTH)

2023

The fourth edition of the exercise was held from March 15 for 4 days in the northern Indian Ocean.[10]

The units participating in the exercise included:

Notes

  1. ^ Russian: Пояс морской безопасности; Chinese: 海上安全带 ; Persian: کمربند امنیت دریایی

References

  • flagChina portal
  • flagIran portal
  • flagRussia portal
  1. ^ "Report: Iran kicks off joint naval drills with Russia, China", The Associated Press, 27 December 2019, retrieved 15 July 2020
  2. ^ "Russia, China, Iran start joint naval drills in Indian Ocean", Reuters, 27 December 2019, retrieved 15 July 2020
  3. ^ Haider, Syed Fazl-e (17 January 2020), "The Strategic Implications of Chinese-Iranian-Russian Naval Drills in the Indian Ocean", China Brief, 20 (1), Jamestown Foundation, retrieved 15 July 2020
  4. ^ Motamedi, Maziar (18 February 2021), Iran, Russia conduct joint naval drill in Indian Ocean, Al Jazeera, retrieved 21 January 2022
  5. ^ Mehdi, Syed Zafar (20 February 2022), Why India skipped Iran-Russia drill at last minute, Anadolu Agency, retrieved 21 January 2022
  6. ^ Russian, Iranian naval forces complete joint drills, Naval News, 18 February 2021, retrieved 21 January 2022
  7. ^ Russia to flex muscles with navy drills involving all its fleets, Al Jazeera, 21 January 2022, retrieved 21 January 2022
  8. ^ Iran, China and Russia hold naval drills in north Indian Ocean, Reuters, 21 January 2022, retrieved 21 January 2022
  9. ^ Mahadzir, Dzirhan (21 January 2022), Russian Navy Announces More Major Fleet Exercises as Drills End with China, Iran, USNI News, retrieved 21 January 2022
  10. ^ "China, Russia, Iran conduct four-day naval exercises". Reuters.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Diplomatic postsDiplomacyConflictsIncidentsIndividualsRelated
Category:Iran–Russia relations


Stub icon

This military-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

  • v
  • t
  • e