Russia, Iran, China to Hold Joint Naval Drills in Indian Ocean

US Faces 'increasing competition' in region, says CENTCOM Chief

Iranian naval ships parading during the last day of a military exercise in the Gulf, near the strategic strait of Hormuz in southern Iran, in September 2020. Iranian Army office/AFP via Getty Images

Russia, Iran, and China are set to hold joint naval drills in the Indian Ocean, as the chief of U.S. Central Command acknowledged that the United States faces “increasing competition” in the Middle East.

It comes as the United States is separately conducting joint exercises with Australia and Japan in Guam.