China and Russia to hold joint naval drills

China, Russia, and Iran have initiated a joint naval drill, "Security Bond-2023," with the goal of safeguarding critical maritime routes. The activities included in the exercise range from search operations to fleet training. Five Chinese vessels, including a state-of-the-art guided-missile destroyer, are participating. Coinciding with the "Security Bond-2023" are the final stages of a larger maritime exercise, IMX 2023, led by the US. The goal of "Security Bond-2023" is to strengthen maritime security and facilitate regional stability. This is the third iteration of the exercise, with the previous ones held in 2019 and 2022.

Important Points to remember:

  1. The "Security Bond-2023" is a joint naval exercise by China, Russia, and Iran.
  2. The exercise is aimed at securing critical maritime routes.
  3. The drill includes search operations, rescue operations, and fleet trainings.
  4. China has dispatched five warships including a guided-missile destroyer called the ‘Nanning.’
  5. The 'Nanning' is equipped with an integrated radar and a vertical launch system.
  6. The drills coincide with the US-led International Maritime Exercise 2023 (IMX 2023).