Chinese, Russian, Iranian navies to unite for drills

The Chinese, Iranian and Russian navies will conduct joint military drills this week, the Chinese Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

"The navies of those countries will carry out the Security Bond-2023 maritime joint military exercises in the Gulf of Oman from March 15 to 19," the Ministry of National Defense said in a news release.

The exercises follow previous China-Iran-Russia joint maritime drills held in 2019 and 2022, it said.

China will send its guided-missile destroyer CNS Nanning to participate, and the navy will be involved in drills including air search, maritime rescue and maritime detachment exercises, the ministry said.

"The exercises will help deepen practical cooperation among the navies of the participating countries; further demonstrate the willingness and ability to jointly safeguard maritime security and actively build a maritime community with a shared future; and inject positive energy into regional peace and stability," it said.