Maritime security belt 2025 drills : Dynamic changes & play

At the beginning of March 2025, the northern Indian Ocean was the centre of a high-profile coordination of naval drills: Iran, Russia, and China initiated the “Maritime Security Belt 2025” multilateral naval drills. The fifth series of them follows since 2019 when they were first conducted. Therefore, it indicates growing trilateral military cooperation to optimize maritime security and expand collective presence on key sea lines of strategy. 

Strategic Significance of the Drills

These drills were held at the attack area of Iran’s port city Chabahar at its south-eastern coast, a very huge strategic location. Chabahar on the Gulf of Oman opens access to the Indian Ocean directly, without passing through the congested Strait of Hormuz - another crucial bottleneck along, which has transported some 20% of the global oil. Such deployment, besides strengthening Iranian maritime power, is also a part of broader networks like the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) between Central Asia and India and Europe via Iran. 

The exercise engaged a broad spectrum of participating country’s naval assets:

Russia: Deployed corvettes “Rezky” and “Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov” and medium-sea tanker “Pechenga” of its Pacific Fleet.

China: Exported destroyer “Baotou” and auxiliary vessel “Gaoyou Lake” indicating interest in protecting strategic sea lanes.

Iran: Imported sophisticated warships such as Shahid Nazeri high-speed patrol and intelligence vessel and Shahid Sayyad Shirazi stealth warship of the Shahid Soleimani class.

All have advanced missile capabilities and helicopter capability. Activities during the exercise included sequential operations that would improve interoperability and tactical acumen stronger: Maritime attack on targets, Damage control exercise & Joint search and rescue exercises.

Especially this year, the exercises were extended to encompass coordinated day and night air target training shooting and tactical formation, demonstrating perfect progress in joint operational capability.

Geopolitical Significance

The time and location of “Maritime Security Belt 2025” are geopolitically significant. The Iran-Russia-China cooperation indicates a joint effort  to counterbalance Western maritime presence in the region, increasing an alternative security framework built on regional sovereignty and stopping external interference. Drilling near the Strait of Hormuz indicates a collective determination to secure key energy corridors crucial to global energy markets. The exercises underscore the role of cooperation that creates shared perception for regional stability in an area of increased geopolitical tensions and interconnected conflict and changing allegiances. 

International Observers and Reactions

The exercises also raised interest outside the participant countries as -

Azerbaijan, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Oman, the UAE, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and South Africa were present as observers because international interest in sea-based multi-lateral co-operation is growing. 

The western maritime powers - the US 5th Fleet - kept close watch on the exercises since they symbolized strategic relevance in the overall global navy plan.

Concludingly, Maritime Security Belt 2025 is the name of the strategic partnership of China, Russia, and Iran, which signifies their desire to increase their naval cooperation and forge stronger strategic relationships in the key maritime areas.

These exercises not only enhance the defence strength of participating nations but also a collective will to define the security matrices of the Indian Ocean subcontinent. With such combined exercises on the increase, they are sure to play a predominant role in defining the maritime security and geopolitical shape of this strategically.

By Kajal Bawa

(KPP News)