International maneuvers “Maritime Security Belt 2024” and their significance
Since 2018, international naval exercises “Maritime Security Belt” have been held annually near the coast of Iran. The next maneuvers in this series started on March 12 and will last three days. During this time, the crews of ships, vessels and marine aviation from Russia, Iran and China must demonstrate their skills and work out cooperation in jointly protecting shipping and protecting economic interests in the region. In addition, the exercises should strengthen the military-political ties of the participating countries.
Exercise plan
The international exercises “Maritime Security Belt 2024” traditionally involve representatives of three countries – Russia, Iran and China. In addition, observers from the armed forces of third countries are present at the maneuvers for the first time. Azerbaijan, India, Kazakhstan, Oman, Pakistan and South Africa sent their representatives to Iran.
The training events involve the combined naval detachment of the participating fleets, naval aviation and marine corps units. Thus, the three countries together sent more than 20 warships, boats and support vessels to the exercises. Predictably, the largest naval detachment was deployed by Iran, off whose coast exercises are taking place. It is represented by almost a dozen ships and vessels, as well as three helicopters. The PLA Navy sent two warships and a support vessel.
From the Russian Navy, the guards missile cruiser "Varyag" and the frigate "Marshal Shaposhnikov" from the Pacific Ocean are participating in international maneuvers. fleet. A few days earlier, they arrived in the Iranian port of Chekhbehar, where the exercise headquarters is located.
Naval aviation is represented at the exercises by standard helicopters based on warships. Iranian armed forces helicopters operating from coastal airfields are also involved.
According to the exercise plan, ships, aircraft and marines of the three countries must practice joint maneuvering, searching for the enemy, using various weapons, etc. The assigned combat training tasks are related to the issues of protecting water areas, protecting shipping and the economic interests of countries in the region of the exercises.
Training battles
According to the Iranian press, an international naval detachment to participate in the “Maritime Security Belt” gathered off the Iranian coast on the eve of the start of the exercises. In particular, Russian ships arrived at the roadstead of the port of Chekhbehar on March 11. After the required preparation, the ships again went to sea and headed to the assigned training grounds.
On the first day of the exercises, ships of the three countries performed joint tactical maneuvering within specified water areas. There was also training on communication and interaction between individual pennants and units from different countries. Officially published materials from the exercises contain footage of joint maneuvers.
Also on March 12, the first combat training shooting took place. In this episode of the exercise, ship crews trained to fight unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned surface boats. To detect such targets, the standard equipment of pennants was used, and crews of heavy machine guns and small-caliber artillery were responsible for their destruction.
On the second day of the exercise, joint maneuvering was again planned. In addition, international forces worked to combat pirates. According to the legend of one of the episodes on March 13, a merchant ship in the Arabian Sea was captured by conditional criminals. The ship's detachment, aviation and inspection teams successfully freed the ship and detained the pirates.
On the last day of the maneuvers, March 14, new episodes with combat training work of sailors from different countries should take place. Maneuvers and firing are planned both at sea ranges and on the shore near the port of Chekhbehar. Then the results will be summed up and the participants will be awarded.
According to the defense departments of the participating countries, the maneuvers are taking place in accordance with the established plan. Representatives of the three fleets successfully cope with the assigned combat training tasks and demonstrate high levels of training. Possible difficulties are resolved, and interaction experience is gained.
Useful experience
The international exercises “Maritime Security Belt” were first held back in 2018, and since then have been held almost every year. The composition of the participants in these maneuvers does not change - Iran, China and Russia are sending their ships. At the same time, the composition of the international naval and aviation group is constantly changing in quantitative and qualitative terms. There is a tendency towards a gradual increase in the number of equipment and personnel involved.
The main task of the “Maritime Security Belt” is to develop actions to protect shipping in the region - both near the Iranian coast and in more remote areas. Pirates and other armed groups appear as a conditional enemy in the exercises, the fight against which requires the combined efforts of several countries. Perhaps the legends of the next exercises will look different.
The practical effect and benefits of such exercises are obvious. Sailors, airmen and Marines have the opportunity to demonstrate and improve their skills and abilities in a variety of situations. In addition, the international scale of the maneuvers allows us to establish interaction with foreign colleagues, both in general and when solving specific problems. Such experience may prove useful in the future when certain threats arise.
Such positive consequences of exercises are best demonstrated by the experiences of China and Iran. They actively trade with each other, and a significant part of the cargo turnover goes through the northern part of the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. Piracy and other factors threaten such cooperation, and the two countries have an interest in protecting maritime transport. They cover the main routes with the forces of their Navy, and the “Maritime Security Belt” provides an opportunity to practice in this matter.
The ongoing exercises are of great interest to the Russian Navy. Our ships regularly participate in international maneuvers with friendly countries and practice various issues of interaction. At the same time, the crews gain useful experience that can be useful in the future. The “Maritime Security Belt” is not the largest exercise of its kind, but it also produces the necessary results.
It should be noted that the Russian Navy traditionally participates in this series of maneuvers with limited forces. This is due to the remoteness of the training sites where the exercises take place, as well as limited interest in operations in that area. Nevertheless, in this case, useful experience is accumulated.
In general, the “Maritime Security Belt” maneuvers, which have been taking place for several years in a row, indicate the desire and readiness of the three countries to defend their interests in the region and demonstrate their readiness to cooperate in this context. The ability and ability of the navies of different countries to protect shipping should influence the situation in the region and ensure free economic activity with the desired results.
It is curious that this year foreign observers will be present at the exercises for the first time. Several foreign navies were allowed to monitor the progress of the maneuvers, thanks to which they will be able to draw certain conclusions of a military and/or political nature. It can be assumed that all this will have a positive impact on the relations of the countries participating in the maneuvers with the states that sent observers.
Great importance
Thus, Russia, Iran and China continue to develop cooperation in various areas, incl. in the field of defense. The next result of this is the next naval exercise “Maritime Security Belt”. The scale of such exercises is gradually growing, their scenario is changing, etc. – in accordance with current challenges and threats.
It should be expected that the Maritime Security Belt 2024 will end with positive results. The crews of ships and aircraft will confirm their skills and receive well-deserved awards, and the participating countries will have the opportunity to continue safe economic activity in the southern seas. In addition, the ongoing maneuvers become a transparent signal to unfriendly countries, which warn against rash actions.
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