In response to NATO’s largest wargames in decades, an alliance involving Iran, Russia and China is beginning joint naval drills in the Gulf of Oman.
The “Marine Security Belt 2024” was expected to begin on Tuesday, March 12, covering 6,600 square miles of sea with a goal of “fostering security and multilateral cooperation,” Knewz.com has learned.
While Russia has referred to NATO’s drills as “the West’s hybrid war on Moscow,” the three nations say their practices are meant to improve trade, confront “piracy and terrorism, support to humanitarian activities, and exchange information in the field of rescue,” Iranian Admiral Mostafa Tajaddini said.
According to The Daily Mail, Iran has increased its partnerships with China and Russia because of tensions with the United States. Tehran is looking to form closer ties to Beijing and Moscow in order to strengthen its place on the global stage.
NATO, meanwhile, welcomed Sweden, its newest member, into drills being conducted with some 90,000 troops, measures that are intended to reinforce how U.S. troops could reinforce European allies if they were attacked by a “near-peer” adversary — which many believe would be Russia.
NATO’s drills, dubbed the “Steadfast Defender” have drawn ire from Russia.
“These exercises are another element of the hybrid war unleashed by the West against Russia,” Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko previously said. “An exercise of this scale… marks the final and irrevocable return of NATO to the Cold War schemes, when the military planning process, resources and infrastructure are being prepared for confrontation with Russia.”
China’s missile destroyer Urumqi and its guided missile frigate Linyi have been deployed to engage in the wargames with Iran and Russia, which has deployed the Varyag, a Slava-class cruiser.
In total, more than 20 ships, support vessels and combat boats are participating in the drills. The countries are also deploying helicopters in the Gulf of Oman, near the Persian Gulf.
A Stronger NATO
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, NATO has grown.
In April 2023, Finland joined the alliance and, last week, Sweden entered the fold.
“We are humble, but we are also proud. We know the expectations for Sweden are high, but we also have high expectations for ourselves,” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told reporters Monday, March 11, according to The Daily Mail. “We will share burdens, responsibilities and risks with our allies.”
On Monday, Sweden hoisted its NATO flag during a ceremony in which Kristersson and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg were in attendance.
“When President Putin launched his full-scale invasion two years ago, he wanted less NATO, and more control over his neighbors,” Stoltenberg said. “He wanted to destroy Ukraine as a sovereign state, but he failed.
“NATO is now bigger and stronger. Ukraine is closer to NATO than ever before, and as the brave Ukrainians continue to fight for their freedom, we stand by their side.”
Sweden now has the protection of NATO’s Article 5, which vows that an attack on any member of the alliance is an attack on all.
“We have chosen you, and you have chosen us. All for one, and one for all,” Kristersson said.
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Author: David Wetzel
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