Trump Unperturbed by Russia, China, Iran Military Exercise in Gulf of Oman

Trump said he is not concerned by Iran, Russia, and China’s Maritime Security Belt-2025 ‘because the U.S. army is stronger than all of them.’

This handout photo made available by the Iranian Army Office on March 11, 2025 shows the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy guided-missile destroyer Baotou (133) during joint military drills between Iran, Russia, and China in the Gulf of Oman. Iranian Army office / AFP via Getty Images

President Donald Trump on March 9 dismissed concerns over Russia, Iran, and China’s “Maritime Security Belt-2025” naval drills in the Gulf of Oman.

When pressed about why he was not concerned about the war games—which began March 9, according to Russia’s Defense Ministry—Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One the U.S. military was “stronger than all of them.”

Iran, China, and Russia were dubbed an “axis of evil” in October 2023 by then-Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) in an interview with Fox News.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte mirrored the sentiment when he called the trio a threat to NATO in Europe and the United States in a November 2024 meeting with other European leaders in Budapest, Hungary, citing North Korea, China, and Iran’s support for Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.

Trump’s response to the reporter’s question, “Russia, China, and Iran are doing military exercises together. Does that concern you?” was, “No, not at all. Not at all.”

“Why?” the reporter asked, to which Trump said, “Because we’re stronger than all of them. We have more power than all of them.”

He went on to say that he “rebuilt” the military. A National Security and Defense webpage from Trump’s first term echoed this statement:

“President Trump rebuilt the United States military after eight years of decline and neglect under the previous Administration,” referring to President Barack Obama’s tenure in the Whitehouse.

The Obama administration’s version of the “eight years of decline” was that he signed a bipartisan agreement that reduced “discretionary spending to its lowest level as a share of the economy since Dwight D. Eisenhower was President,” per the Lowering Discretionary Spending webpage from the Obama White House archives.

The 10-year plan signed on Nov. 2, 2015, was expected to drive “$1 trillion in deficit reduction; balanced between defense and non-defense spending,” the White House fact sheet on the Bipartisan Debt Deal stated.

Trump went on to say: “Unfortunately, Biden did nothing with it, but I rebuilt the military.”

Russia, Iran, and China’s War Game

The Iranian military’s page on X stated on March 11 that “observers from the Republic of Baku, South Africa, Oman, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Qatar, Iraq, the UAE, and Sri Lanka are participating in the pivotal Iran-Russia-China Security Belt 2025, currently taking place in the Indian Ocean.”

The announcement followed a report by its military-affiliated Tasnim news outlet on March 9, claiming that the exercise was in aid of  “peace” and “marine security.”

The Russian Defense Ministry commented on the operation on the same day, noting that it comprised vessels from its own Navy and those from Iran’s Navy and China’s People’s Liberation Army.

The Russian contribution comprised two corvettes, the smallest class of warship, Rezkiy, and Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov, along with what it called a “medium sea tanker Pechenga of the Pacific Fleet.”

It noted that the operation was intended to last a few days and intended to “work out the tasks of liberation of captured ships, search and rescue at sea, as well as conduct artillery firing at sea and air targets.”

China’s March 10 People’s Liberation Army statement parroted Iran’s narrative and claimed that it sent the missile destroyer, Baotou, and a supply ship named Gaoyouhu.

China’s involvement in the exercise comes amid its intensifying trade war with the United States.

China’s War with the US

On Feb. 4, Trump imposed a 10 percent levy on the communist regime and doubled it on March 4—which, according to the White House fact sheet, is due to China’s role in America’s fentanyl problem.

China responded to the first batch with 15 percent tariffs on coal and LNG products and 10 percent on crude oil, farming tools, and heavy displacement vehicles, along with restrictions on rare earth minerals and substances used in military industry.

To the March 4 package, China retaliated with tariffs on a string of American farm products, including chicken, wheat, corn, and cotton, that it marked up by 15 percent, and an additional 10 percent on soybeans, pork, beef, seafood, fruits, and vegetables.

As a nod to the resulting tensions, Lin Jian, Beijing’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, made a statement on X saying whatever type of war the Unite States wants, China would fight to the end.

Trump did not respond, but two days later, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Fox News that the United States was prepared for such a scenario. “Those who long for peace must prepare for war,” he said, quoting a Latin adage from Roman times.