Just In: As Trump pushes to reset world order, China, Russia and Iran send a signal with joint naval drills…..Read More

With China, Russia and Iran deepening their military alliance, a new power axis is emerging—leaving the world to question whether President Trump can counter its rise

Warships from Iran, China and Russia commenced their annual joint naval drills in the Gulf of Oman marking the latest demonstration of deepening military ties among these three nations. Dubbed “Security Belt-2025,” the exercise that began on Monday is being conducted near the strategic Iranian port of Chabahar and represents the fifth such drill since 2019. The exercises, according to Russian military sources, are aimed at countering piracy and ensuring the security of maritime communications.

However, the timing and nature of these drills send a far more profound message. The exercises occur as US President Donald Trump continues to disrupt traditional Western alliances and

redefine America’s role in global security. With the US recalibrating its international commitments, China, Russia and Iran are seizing the moment to showcase their military cooperation positioning themselves as a counterweight to American influence.

A tactical collaboration against Western influence

According to CNN, the drills feature a range of military exercises, including simulated strikes on maritime targets, visit-board-search-seizure operations and search-and-rescue drills. Russia’s defence ministry reported that 15 combat ships, support vessels and gunboats along with helicopters are involved in the exercise. China has deployed the Type 052D guided-missile destroyer Baotou and the supply ship Gaoyouhu, while Iran has contributed a stealth missile corvette and a patrol ship.

While these exercises are ostensibly aimed at strengthening regional security and cooperation, analysts view them as a clear geopolitical manoeuvre. According to CNN, these joint exercises highlight the growing strategic convergence among China, Russia and Iran—three authoritarian regimes that share a mutual interest in challenging the Western-led global order. This year, the stakes are even higher as Trump’s foreign policy shifts continue to disrupt global dynamics including a more conciliatory approach toward Russia and a push for America’s Asian allies to contribute more toward their defence.

Trump’s Russia play: Strategy or gamble?

President Trump’s overtures to Russian leader Vladimir Putin appear to be a calculated move aimed at fracturing the Beijing-Moscow axis, according to an analysis by The Wall Street Journal’s Yaroslav Trofimov. By cosying up to Putin, Trump seemingly hopes to exploit geopolitical fault lines and shift global power dynamics in Washington’s favour.

However, China and Russia remain steadfast in their alliance. On February 24, 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed his “no limits” partnership with Putin in a phone call marking the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The discussion focussed on the durability of their ties, explicitly rejecting any external attempts to drive a wedge between them.

Foreign-policy experts compare Trump’s manoeuvre to a “reverse Nixon.” In the early 1970s, President Richard Nixon and his national security adviser, Henry Kissinger, leveraged existing Sino-Soviet tensions to draw China closer to the US, reshaping Cold War geopolitics. Today, however, Russia and China are deeply intertwined—militarily, economically and diplomatically. China provides Russia with critical economic lifelines, including components for military industries, while Moscow has strengthened alliances with Iran and North Korea, both key suppliers of weapons and, in North Korea’s case, even troops for Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Yet, Trump’s efforts come with risks. A strategic tilt toward Russia—at the cost of support for Ukraine—has unsettled Washington’s European allies, who collectively represent the US’s largest trading partner and primary source of foreign investment. Additionally, this abrupt shift could erode trust among America’s Asian partners, potentially weakening US influence in countering China.

A briefing memo from Kremlin which Trofimov referred to suggests Moscow has contemplated offering concessions to Washington, including curbing military cooperation with China, restricting Chinese involvement in strategic infrastructure projects and limiting natural-gas exports to Europe to benefit American liquefied natural gas sales. There were even discussions about granting US firms access to mineral-rich regions in occupied Ukraine.

For China, Trump’s outreach to Russia presents both a challenge and an opportunity. While Beijing remains wary of any potential shift in Russian loyalty, it also stands to gain strategically. A divided Europe and a weakened transatlantic alliance could further China’s objectives of sustaining Putin’s regime while eroding US influence in Europe—two goals that previously seemed at odds but now appear increasingly attainable.

Dismissal amid growing concerns

Despite the growing military coordination between these three US adversaries, President Trump has downplayed their significance. When asked about the drills during an interview aboard Air Force One, Trump dismissed concerns, saying that they were stronger than all of them and had more power than all of them, according to Fox News. However, many in Washington are less convinced with lawmakers warning that this burgeoning alliance could magnify the global threat posed by these nations. The CNN reported that some have referred to the trio as an “axis of authoritarianism,” expressing fears that their cooperation extends beyond naval drills and into broaderstrategic domains including economic and cyber warfare.

Trump’s approach to international relations has raised further concerns. His strategy of engaging directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin while sidelining European allies has been perceived as a weakening of transatlantic unity. Meanwhile, North Korea, another adversarial power, has deepened its military ties with Russia, signing a mutual defence agreement and reportedly sending troops to support Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The Iran factor

The timing of the naval exercises is particularly noteworthy given the heightened tensions between the US and Iran. According to the Times of Israel, Trump has revived his “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran aiming to cut Iran’s oil exports and curb its nuclear ambitions. This renewed stance has been met with defiance from Tehran, which has strengthened its defence ties with both Moscow and Beijing.

According to Iranian state media, the joint naval drills are designed to “strengthen security in the region and expand multilateral cooperation between participating countries”. Iran, which has conducted similar drills in the past, sees these exercises as a way to reinforce its strategic partnerships and demonstrate its ability to withstand US sanctions and military threats. The presence of Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ warships in the exercise further highlights Tehran’s commitment to a more aggressive military posture in response to US policies, Iran’s Tasnim News reported.

Importance of the Gulf of Oman

The choice of the Gulf of Oman as the exercise location is not incidental. According to the South China Morning Post, this maritime region serves as a critical gateway to the Strait of Hormuz, through which over 25 per cent of the world’s seaborne oil trade passes. The US Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, maintains a significant naval presence in the region monitoring any threats to maritime security.

By conducting joint drills in these waters, China, Russia and Iran are sending a clear signal to the United States and its allies. Their exercises serve as both a demonstration of military capability and a warning that these nations can influence vital global trade routes. This positioning becomes even more relevant as Washington recalibrates its engagement in West Asia, particularly in light of Trump’s shifting foreign policy stance.

The global implications

The deepening military collaboration between China, Russia and Iran raises broader concerns about the evolution of global alliances. Traditionally, the US has relied on a network of strategic partnerships, particularly through Nato and its alliances in the Indo-Pacific. However, as Trump urges allies to shoulder more financial burdens and revises long-standing commitments, rival powers have quickly latched on to this perceived vacuum.

The increasing alignment between these three nations could also have ramifications for global security beyond the Middle East, or West Asia. If this partnership extends into other theatres—such as the South China Sea, Eastern Europe or even Latin America—it could present significant strategic challenges for Washington and its allies. Some experts argue that the growing cooperation among China, Russia and Iran is part of a broader geopolitical trend where authoritarian regimes collaborate to counter Western dominance in global affairs, the CNN said.

With China, Russia and Iran forging closer military ties, the world may be witnessing the emergence of a new axis reshaping geopolitical dynamics. Can President Trump counter this shift?