News Analysis The joint naval drills between China, Russia, and Iran come at a worrying time for the United States and its allies. The “2022 Marine Security Belt” exercises took place in the northern Indian Ocean on Jan. 21, with the stated goal of increasing cooperation between the three countries. According to a spokesman for Iran’s armed forces, this venture is meant to “jointly support world peace, maritime security and create a maritime community with a common future.” This is the third of such official joint-naval exercises between the three since 2019. The Iranian official, Mostafa Tajoldin, reported that the purpose of such maneuvers was to strengthen the security of international trade routes, fight piracy, and exchange experience. Some of the capabilities that were demonstrated include rescue operations for burning ships, responding to a ship hijacking, and anti-aircraft firing exercises. These scheduled operations are part of a broader trend of increased …