Russia, China, and Iran Holding Joint Naval Drills
Chinese guided-missile destroyer. (AFP/Mark Schiefelbein)
The Russians, Chinse, and Iranians are conducting joint maritime drills in the Persian Gulf. One of the reasons for this drill, they claim, is to support stability. In order to support this stability, the Chinese sent a ship that they call an “aircraft carrier killer”.
For their part, the Iranians claim that this exercise would address terrorism and security. The Chinese and Russians have been holding joint military exercises in the western Pacific area. This is a topic covered by media in Asia, some conservative media here, but not as much in our mainstream.
From Military.com:
The US reimposed crippling sanctions on Iran in May last year after withdrawing from the international deal aimed at tackling the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program, prompting Tehran to hit back with countermeasures.
Remaining parties to the badly weakened 2015 deal include China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany.
China’s foreign minister said the exercises were part of “normal military cooperation” between the three countries.
In June, US President Donald Trump authorized a military strike after Iran shot down a US drone, only to call off the retaliation at the last moment.
You could read the whole article here.
First. Instead of holding joint excercises, why don’t they just light up some joints and chill/mellow out.
Wonder how much stolen American Technology is in that Chinese ship? Ruskkies and Chinks drilling with the mullahs so they can pass on what they know of American Naval Offensive/defensive systems?
The failures of our past “diplomacy” is getting ready to bite us on the azz.
Stolen hell, I wonder how much of it was given to them by the previous Administration?
Eggsactly API. My veiled opinion in my last sentence.
The Chinese come out with “Aircraft Carrier Killers” quite often, the latest being the nuclear capable DF-21D and DF-26 antiship ballistic missiles (ASBM). While the claimed range of these weapons, 900NM, is impressive, one first has to locate the target.
An Aircraft Carrier Killer ship would also have its work cut out for it- our carriers are well protected over, on and under the sea.
So is this a new “Axis of Evil?” The Iranians claim to “address terrorism and security” on its face is pretty funny, and China and Russia make nice and fall apart on a regular basis. No honor among thieves.
This exercise is all well and good, but won’t really change much. And will be observed pretty closely.
As a former Operations Specialist, I could attest to this fact. Over the horizon targeting and tracking is not as “easy” or “clear cut” as the movies make them out to be. You’d have an easier time finding a needle in the haystack, or something that’s easily lost but hard to find, than you would a ship that’s over the horizon.
I was thinking that this was a lost opportunity for the most -epic- SINKEX.
Maybe they’ll have their own SINKEX, that would rock!
What baffles me is what possible self-interest could Russia possibly have in seeing a large Islamic nation just below it’s southern border successfully develop nuclear-tipped missiles capable of reaching major Russian metropolitan areas?
Russia has far more to fear from militant Islam than the U.S. does what with so many tens of millions of Muslims already living within it’s borders.
Seems self-defeating to me.
“..a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.”
I suppose its in Russia’s interests to foment more instability in the region, and help their Syrian pals. Their only deep water port in the Med is there after all.
Each participant just got a very good, close-up look at a known rival and potential near-term opponent.
Each of which will turn on another at the drop of a hat!
If “someone” has been reading Sun Tzu, perhaps some strife might be sown in the enemy camps.
Every dollar Russia spends it cost the U.S a thousand to counter it. I think of it as a $1 bullet vs $1000 dollar body armor.
That works both ways, and we have way more dollars.
And thanks to the energy boom, here, Russia is having a tough time coming up with competitive levels of cash.
I have to respectfully disagree, remember how Ronald Reagan’s buildup/rebuild of the US Military made the USSR go into a spending frenzy on their Military that lead to the collapse of the Soviet Union?