Russia launches major joint naval exercises with China
- In Reports
- 10:44 PM, Sep 11, 2024
- Myind Staff
Russia has been a leading player in the development of defences. Now to further advance in the field of defence, the Russian military began extensive naval and aviation drills on Tuesday that covered both hemispheres and entailed cooperative operations with China, as part of a recent effort to better fortify its core. Significant portions of the "Ocean-24" exercise are held in the Mediterranean Ocean, Caspian Sea, Baltic Sea and Pacific Ocean. The drill is being conducted by over 90,000 troops, over 120 aircraft and helicopters, and over 400 warships, submarines, and support vessels. The operations will continue until September 16, according to a statement from the Russian Defence Ministry.
The current war simulations, in which Chinese vessels and planes are taking part, are the biggest of their kind in three decades, according to remarks made by Russian President Vladimir Putin to military chiefs. China said on Monday that its fleets will be cruising the Pacific together, although it has not revealed many details.
Putin mentioned that 15 nations have been invited to watch these drills as observers without naming them. He said, “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.” The Russian president accused the United States of “trying to maintain its global military and political dominance at any cost," seeking “to inflict a strategic defeat” on Russia in its war with Ukraine and to “break the established security architecture and balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region.”
“Under the pretext of countering the allegedly existing Russian threat and containing the People’s Republic of China, the United States, and its satellites are increasing their military presence near Russia’s western borders, in the Arctic and the Asia-Pacific region,” Putin said, that “Russia must be prepared for any development of the situation.”
The two nations have been aligning their foreign policies to challenge if not completely topple, the liberal democratic system established by the West. Other adversaries of the United States have also joined them, such as Iran. China helped Russia in launching joint drills to further its long term goal of becoming a Pacific power, with Moscow endorsing all of China's territorial claims in the South China Sea and beyond.
According to Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, the purpose of the exercises is to train and “repel 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.”
Image Source: DefenseNews
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