Are Iran-Russia-China naval drills ‘symbolic’ or a security tilt to the East?

News Snapshot:

March 17, 2024 Amid heightened regional tensions since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, Chinese and Russian warships this week entered Iranian territorial waters near the Chabahar port for Maritime Security Belt 2024 naval drills with Iran. The exercises lasted March 11–15 and also included participation by Azerbaijan, India, Kazakhstan Pakistan, Oman, and South Africa as observers. This year marks the fifth consecutive year of the trilateral exercises — though China missed the 2021 drills — this year various factors lent the event added significance. Roberto Neccia, an independent researcher and Iran analyst, told Al-Monitor that while the joint drill...