The Maritime Security Belt 2026 exercise comes as the U.S. is flowing forces to the Middle East ahead of a possible attack on Iran.

Russia, China and Iran have launched high-intensity joint naval drills in the Gulf of Oman and northern Indian Ocean, signaling deeper military alignment. The Maritime Security Belt exercise unfolds near the Strait of Hormuz — a critical artery for global oil flows.

Russia says it has deployed naval vessels, alongside China and Iran, for joint exercises in the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz is an important waterway located between Iran to the north and Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the south.

Amid simmering friction between the United States and Iran, naval forces from Iran, Russia and China are set to conduct a joint military exercise in

Saudi Arabia uses price cuts to unseat Russia as China's main oil supplier. Oil prices dip amid US-Iran talks; markets also watch Russia-Ukraine. At a time when there is noise about OPEC+ potentially resuming their production increases from April, experts see Saudi Arabia replacing Russia as China’s main crude supplier in the coming months.

As U.S.–Iran tensions surge toward the brink of war, Russia and China are moving quickly to block any American military escalation in the Middle East. Vladimir Putin has reaffirmed strong strategic backing for Iran,