Russia, China and Iran have deployed naval vessels to take part in the upcoming “Maritime Security Belt 2026” exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, Russian presidential aide Nikolai Patrushev announced.

Beijing and Moscow aim to strengthen their alliance and push back against what they view as a U.S.-dominated global system.

China and Russia are set to hold joint naval exercises, dubbed Maritime Interaction 2025, off Russia’s Pacific coast near Vladivostok this August, the Chinese Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, China, Iran, and Russia held joint naval drills in the Middle East, demonstrating their military cooperation amid regional tensions. The exercise comes as concerns grow over Tehran's expanding nuclear program and increasing threats from Yemen's Houthi rebels against shipping in the area.

Russia and China started naval exercises in the Sea of Japan on Saturday, Russian news agencies cited Russia's Pacific Fleet as saying, News.Az reports citing foreign media.

Two Russian warships have arrived in the southern Chinese port city of Zhanjiang to take part in joint naval exercises, the Russian defense ministry said Saturday, News.Az reports citing AFP.

Chinese and Russian armies have launched joint naval drills, dubbed Exercise Joint Sea-2024, in the waters and airspace near Zhanjiang City, south China's Guangdong Province, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense said on Friday, News.Az reports citing CGTN.