Naval forces from China, Iran, and Russia are set to participate in joint exercises near Iran this week, as confirmed by officials from the three countries. The exercises, scheduled from March 11 to March 15, will be held in the Gulf of Oman close to Iran’s Chabahar port, echoing similar drills conducted last year.

The exercises, dubbed the Security Belt 2025, will involve simulated attacks on maritime targets, according to a statement from the Chinese Defense Ministry. Participating Chinese naval assets will include the Luyang III-class guided missile destroyer Baotu and a supply ship, both part of the People’s Liberation Army navy’s task force that routinely performs anti-piracy missions in the Gulf of Aden and off the Somali coast.

The strategic location of the exercises, between the Strait of Hormuz and the Indian Ocean, is crucial for the transit of significant volumes of oil and other goods. Iran’s state-run Tasnim news agency reported that the drills underscore the growing “military trust and pragmatic cooperation” between the participating nations, all of which have strained relations with the U.S.

Andrew S. Erickson, a China expert at the Naval War College’s China Maritime Studies Institute, commented on the significance of these exercises in terms of China’s regional ambitions. “This shows Beijing’s true priorities in the region, which are relentlessly mercantilist and geopolitical,” Erickson stated. He criticized China for prioritizing its self-interests over providing international public goods, despite its extensive naval deployments in the region since December 2008.

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The timing of the drills coincides with escalating tensions between the U.S. and both China and Iran, with disputes over Taiwan and U.S. sanctions, respectively. Former U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified economic sanctions against Iran, targeting the nation’s oil exports and threatening to seize Iranian vessels. However, Trump has also reached out for negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, a move that has been firmly rejected by Iranian leaders.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expressed his country’s stance on negotiations, stating on social media, “We will NOT negotiate under pressure and intimidation. We will NOT even consider it, no matter what the subject may be.”

Amid these geopolitical tensions, China continues to increase its military activities around Taiwan and other regions, promoting its political system as an alternative to the U.S.-led global order. A Chinese military spokesperson recently warned of severe consequences for Taiwan should it pursue formal independence.

The trilateral exercises also reflect growing military cooperation between Beijing and Moscow, with recent joint patrols and exercises near Alaska and other strategic locations. The Russian Defense Ministry revealed that its contingent for the upcoming exercises in the Gulf of Oman includes missile corvettes and a fuel tanker, under the command of Rear Adm. Alexei Sysuev.

Additionally, military and trade cooperation between Russia and Iran is on the rise, highlighted by a recent agreement signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, which includes provisions for both military exchanges and economic trade.