Russia kicks off Vostok-2022 military exercise with China and regional allies
Asia-Pacific, Europe, News September 2, 2022 1 Comment on Russia kicks off Vostok-2022 military exercise with China and regional alliesRussian-led Vostok-2022 kicks off in Russia’s far east region. The exercise will continue from September 1-7 at various locations including the Sea of Japan.
More than 50,000 troops from fourteen countries are participating in the large-scale war games. Forces from Russia, China, India, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, Algeria, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Nicaragua, Tajikistan, and Syria and set to participate in the 7-day-long military exercises.
According to the Russian Defense Minister, the exercise would engage more than 5000 military weapons units, 140 military aircraft, and more than 60 naval warships from all the participating countries.
The land forces drills will be conducted at seven different firing ranges in the eastern part of Russia while airborne troops, long-range missiles, bombers, and military cargo planes will take part in the drills along the land forces.
Russia first announced the Vostok (East) last month. Arranging a large-scale military exercise while managing a costly five-month-long military campaign in Ukraine is Russia’s attempt to mark a statement that Moscow is also focused on defending its territories on the Eastern fronts.
#Russia kicks off Vostok military exercise. 50,000 troops from 14 countries including #China and #India are participating in #Vostok 2022 pic.twitter.com/1Ta9rCH3hU
— IRIA (@IRIA_Research) September 1, 2022
During a meeting with the foreign military attaches last month, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Fomin said that“The exercise isn’t directed against any specific countries or military alliances and is purely defensive.” He also specified that the naval drills under Vostok-2022 would take part in the northern and central part of the Sea of Japan and that they are not directed against any of Russia’s maritime neighbors.
China’s participation in the Russian-led military exercises highlights the increasing military ties between Moscow and Beijing, which have become stronger since the Russian invasion of Ukraine started in February 2022. China has refused to blatantly blame Russia for its actions in Ukraine but instead accused the U.S. of being the main instigator for its support of NATO’s advances toward Russian borders.
In return, Russia has also backed China against increasing pressure from the U.S. which reached its climax when U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan recently. Russian President Vladimir Putin drew parallels between U.S.’s support for Ukraine and Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan by saying that the two actions are subjected to foment regional and global instability.
Although Russia and China do not plan to forge a military alliance, the two countries have been holding a series of large-scale military exercises. The two countries participated in a joint military exercise one year ago in August 2021. More than 10,000 Russian and Chinese troops participated in joint military exercises in the north-central Ningxia region. The two countries also held joint naval drills in October 2021.
Aircraft Armenia Azerbaijan Belarus Central Asia China Defense Drills Exercise India Japan Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Military Mongolia Nicaragua Putin Russia Syria Tajikistan Ukraine Weapons
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[…] military exercise with China and India participating. Tokyo has protested against the ongoing military exercise Vostok-2022 on two of four Russian-held islands claimed by Japan. Foreign Ministry officials said Japan has […]