According to information published by the Chinese MoD on March 11, 2024, China, Iran, and Russia have initiated joint naval exercises in the Gulf of Oman, set to run from March 11 to 15.
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Chinese Type 052D destroyer Ürümqi. (Picture source: Chinanews)
The inaugural session of these exercises took place over four days starting December 27, 2019, in the northern Indian Ocean, featuring a diverse array of naval assets from the participating countries. The lineup included frigates, corvettes, a hovercraft, auxiliary ships, and more.
Despite the ambitious start, the 2021 iteration saw a notable change when China's participation was initially expected but did not materialize, with the exercises proceeding with Russia and Iran. This edition was marked by confusion over the involvement of additional nations.
The exercises have evolved in scope and complexity, with the 2022 version encompassing extensive tactical drills over a significantly large area in the northern Indian Ocean. This included advanced maneuvers such as extinguishing fires on burning vessels, liberating hijacked ships, and nocturnal air target shooting.
2024
The ongoing "Security Bond-2024" naval exercises include the participation of advanced vessels such as the guided-missile destroyer Urumqi and frigate Linyi, contributed by China's People's Liberation Army Navy.
