The Russian military on Tuesday launched massive naval and air drills spanning across both hemispheres and including China in joint maneuvers.
The “Ocean-24” exercise spans the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, the Mediterranean, Caspian and Baltic Seas and involves over 400 warships, submarines and support vessels, more than 120 planes and helicopters and over 90,000 troops, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
The maneuvers will continue through Sept. 16, the ministry said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in comments to military officials that the war games are the largest of their kind in three decades, and that China’s warships and planes were taking part.
China confirmed that on Monday, saying the two countries’ navies would cruise together in Pacific, but gave no details.
A total of 15 countries have been invited to observe the drills, Putin said, without naming them.
“We pay special attention to strengthening military cooperation with friendly states.
Today, in the context of growing geopolitical tensions in the world, this is especially important,” Putin said.
With joint exercises, Russia has sought Chinese help in achieving its long-cherished aim of becoming a Pacific power, while Moscow has backed China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea and elsewhere.
Russia’s Defense Minister Andrei Belousov said the drills are aimed to train “repelling large-scale aggression of a potential enemy from ocean directions, combating unmanned boats, unmanned aerial vehicles, defending naval bases, conducting amphibious operations and escorting transports.”
Massive naval and aviation drills that span both hemispheres and involve China in joint maneuvers were initiated by the Russian military on Tuesday.
As per the Russian Defense Ministry’s statement, over 400 warships, submarines, and support vessels, over 120 aircraft and helicopters, over 90,000 soldiers, and the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean, Caspian, and Baltic Seas are all involved in the “Ocean-24” drill. The maneuvers are scheduled to last until September. 16 according to the ministry.
The largest war games in three decades, according to remarks made by Russian President Vladimir Putin to military officials, included participation from Chinese warships and aircraft. China said on Monday that the navies of the two nations will travel together in the Pacific, but it provided no further information.
Putin stated, without naming them, that a total of fifteen countries have been invited to watch the drills.
“We give bolstering military cooperation with friendly states particular attention. This is particularly crucial now, given the escalating geopolitical tensions throughout the globe, according to Putin.
By attempting “to inflict a strategic defeat” on Russia in its war with Ukraine, as well as “break the established security architecture and balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region,” the US, according to the Russian president, is “trying to maintain its global military and political dominance at any cost.”. “.
Putin said, “Russia must be prepared for any development of the situation. The United States and its satellites are increasing their military presence near Russia’s western borders, in the Arctic, and in the Asia-Pacific region under the pretext of countering the allegedly existing Russian threat and containing the People’s Republic of China.”. “.
China and Russia, in addition to other U. s. Some who oppose the liberal democratic order led by the West, like Iran, have coordinated their foreign policies in an attempt to subvert and subvert it.
Russia has been working with China to achieve its long-standing goal of becoming a Pacific power through joint exercises, and Moscow has supported China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea and other areas.
The exercises are intended to prepare participants for “repelling large-scale aggression of a potential enemy from ocean directions, combating unmanned boats and unmanned aerial vehicles, defending naval bases, conducting amphibious operations and escorting transports,” according to Andrei Belousov, Russia’s minister of defense. “.
