China, Russia, Iran hold joint naval drills in Gulf of Oman

Naval forces from China, Iran and Russia – all countries at varying degrees of odds with the United States – are staging joint drills in the Gulf of Oman this week, China’s Defense Ministry has announced.
Other countries are also taking part in the “Security Bond-2023” exercises, the ministry said Tuesday without giving details. Iran, Pakistan, Oman and the United Arab Emirates all have coastline along the waterbody lying at the mouth of the strategic Persian Gulf.
The exercises scheduled for Wednesday through Sunday come amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and China over a range of issues, including China’s refusal to criticize Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine and continuing support for the Russian economy.