State media reports that Russia, China, and Iran launched an Indian Ocean joint naval exercise with the goal of increasing marine security.
Iran’s state TV stated that eleven of its ships were joined in the attack by three Russian ships, one destroyer, as well as two Chinese vessels.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard is also expected to participate along with small ships and helicopters.
It comes amid heightened tensions with Russia and the West due to Moscow’s recent buildup of about 100,000 soldiers on its border with Ukraine.
China and Iran are also joining Russia – these two countries, which have been at odds with the West for decades, were recently charged with sending a spy into the UK Parliament.
Russia, China, and Iran have joined forces to launch a naval exercise in Indian Ocean. The aim is to increase marine security.
A member of the Iranian Army fires his weapon in a joint naval drill between Russia, China and Iran at the Indian Ocean on Friday
Joint naval exercises will be conducted over 6,560 miles (17,000 kms) in the Indian Ocean’s northern region. They include night fighting and rescue operations as well as firefighting drills.
The drills’ spokesperson, Iran’s Rear Admiral Mostafa Takoldini, stated that the drills are designed to improve security and strengthen the foundations of security in the area.
It is the third naval exercise between these countries since 2019. This drill coincided with the recent Russian visit of Iran’s extremist President Ebrahim Raisi.
According to the IRNA news agency, Mr Raisi stated that improving bilateral relations between Moscow and Tehran will increase security in the region as well as the global arena.
A helicopter and warships attend the joint naval drill between China, Russia and Iran in the Indian Ocean
Ebrahim Rashi, Iran’s ultra-conservative President, pursued a ‘look east’ policy in order to improve relations with Russia and China since his election last June.
Iran has been trying to increase military cooperation with Beijing, Moscow and China amid tensions in the region with the United States. Recent years have seen an increase in Iranian naval visits by Chinese and Russian representatives.
Tehran was also a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, which is a central Asian security agency led by Beijing or Moscow.
As efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers, Iran has been conducting regular military drills.
Russian, Chinese, Iranian and Russian warships participated in a joint drill between Iran, Russia, China and China at the Indian Ocean.
Tensions between China and West have been growing, with Britain accusing Beijing that it sent Christine Lee, an alleged spy, into the UK Parliament.
The Chinese lawyer consorted in plain sight with Prime Ministers, peers and senior MPs, pumping hundreds of thousands of pounds into both Labour and Tory coffers as, according to MI5, she sought to extend Beijing’s influence.
China MI5 warned MPs Lee was trying to “covertly interfere” in British politics over many years. They also accused Britain of being too obsessed by James Bond films.
The West and China have been at odds over Taiwan’s claim to be theirs and their record in human rights.
With Washington rejecting Beijing’s illegal territorial claims, South China Sea has been a major flashpoint in the bitter relationship between China and America.
Satellite images show equipment being deployed in Klimovo Railyard (Klimovo, Russia) on Wednesday
Moscow has been massing thousands of soldiers, tanks and artillery in its eastern flank for several weeks. It has raised fears that Russia will invade. But, the Kremlin insisted it was a defensive force. (pictured: Russian forces are currently positioned in border areas).
Russia and the West are also at odds over Ukraine’s neighbor. The country has sent around 100,000 soldiers to Washington and Kyiv, which Washington and Kyiv fear will be used for invasion.
Moscow today was warned by Washington and its allies of serious consequences for any of the many thousands of American troops gathered on the border with Ukraine.
Following talks in Berlin with Germany, France and Britain, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken insisted that Russia ‘cannot match’ Western powers’ resoluteness.
He said that Russia could invade Ukraine and “drag us back to a more dangerous time and instabile time when this continent and this city were split in half…with the threat of war all over our heads,” he added.
Annalena Baerbock, German Foreign Minister, stated that in a sign of unity which has not been seen lately, the West will not hesitate to take action even though it could have economic consequences.
After gaining support from his allies today, Blinken will travel to Berlin and Geneva for talks with Sergei Lavrov.
Following meeting NATO allies at Berlin (pictured), US Secretary-of-State Antony Blinken has warned Russia that there will be a “grave consequence” for any Russian troops crossing into Ukraine.
Blinken flew then to Geneva (pictured), where he will meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in order to try to ease tensions with Ukraine.
There are growing fears that Europe could be in a conflict. Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister warned that Russia’s march on Ukraine would cause repercussions that go beyond Europe. He said, “It would have a disastrous effect on the world.”
Today, Liz Truss (foreign secretary), spoke in Australia during talks about the AUKUS submarine agreement. She warned Putin today to “desist and take back” from Ukraine.
According to her, “Invasion is only going to lead us into a horrible quagmire with loss of lives, as we have seen from both the Soviet Afghanistan war and the conflict in Chechnya,” she stated.
We need all to get involved. With our allies, together we will continue standing with Russia. We urge them to stop escalating and to have meaningful conversations. It is important that the world sees what’s happening in eastern Europe.
Russia’s Thursday announcement included extensive naval maneuvers that will be carried out in multiple areas, including the vast majority of its naval capability – approximately 140 warships as well as more than 60 aircraft. These manoeuvres are expected to continue until February.
Exercises will take place in the Black Sea and Mediterranean, as well as the Pacific Ocean and north-eastern Atlantic.
The Ministry of Defence stated in a statement that they will use 140 warships and support ships, 60 aircrafts, 1000 units of military hardware, and approximately 10,000 servicemen.
Russian military movements are being carefully monitored as an increase in troops near Ukraine, and other hawkish statements have shaken the West and raised fears about a possible war. Moscow strongly denies any intention to invade Ukraine.
A Facebook video showed the Ministry’s Pacific Fleet’s latest diesel-electric submarine firing a Kalibr cruiser missile from underwater in the Sea of Japan at a target.
According to the report, it hit a coastal location in Russia’s eastern Khabarovsk from more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) range.