Russia launches biggest naval drills in 30 years, China joins the action

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

RUSSIA IS HOLDING ITS LARGEST NAVAL EXERCISES IN OVER 30 YEARS — LOOKING TO STRENGTHEN ITS MILITARY PRESENCE IN RESPONSE TO WHAT MOSCOW CALLS U-S ATTEMPTS TO ALTER THE BALANCE OF SECURITY IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC.
THE DRILLS– NAMED “OCEAN-2024” –INVOLVE MORE THAN 400 WARSHIPS AND SUBMARINES, 120 NAVAL AIRCRAFT AND 90-THOUSAND TROOPS SPANNING THE PACIFIC AND ARCTIC OCEANS AS WELL AS THE MEDITERRANEAN, CASPIAN AND BALTIC SEAS.

THE EXERCISE CONTINUES UNTIL NEXT WEEK.

SIMULTANEOUSLY — CHINA AND RUSSIA ARE SET TO LAUNCH ‘NORTHERN/INTERACTION-2024,’ A PIVOTAL JOINT NAVAL AND AIR EXERCISE IN THE STRATEGIC WATERS OF THE SEA OF JAPAN AND THE SEA OF OKHOTSK.

THE EXERCISES, ANNOUNCED MONDAY, AIM TO STRENGTHEN STRATEGIC COOPERATION AND IMPROVE RUSSIA AND CHINA’S ABILITY TO JOINTLY RESPOND TO SECURITY THREATS. THIS MARKS THE FIFTH TIME BOTH COUNTRIES CONDUCTED JOINT MARITIME PATROLS IN THE PACIFIC.

BEIJING CHARACTERIZES ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH MOSCOW AS A PARTNERSHIP, NOT AN ALLIANCE, SAYING IT’S NON-CONFRONTATIONAL AND DOESN’T TARGET OTHER COUNTRIES.

IN RESPONSE TO THE JOINT DRILLS, THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THERE IS NO IMMEDIATE NEED TO ALTER U.S. MILITARY STRATEGY. JOHN KIRBY, SPOKESPERSON FOR THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL, SAID THESE EXERCISES WERE LONG-PLANNED AND PART OF ROUTINE MILITARY COOPERATION BETWEEN RUSSIA AND CHINA.

DESPITE THEIR GROWING TIES, KIRBY POINTED OUT RUSSIA AND CHINA HAVE A HISTORY OF MUTUAL DISTRUST.

AS FOR THE US — SEVERAL AIRCRAFT CARRIERS NORMALLY STATIONED IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC WERE DIVERTED TO THE MIDDLE EAST ACCORDING TO US CENTRAL COMMAND — CREATING A TEMPORARY GAP IN SEA POWER IN THE REGION. HOWEVER, TWO AMPHIBIOUS WARSHIPS, THE USS BOXER AND USS AMERICA, REMAIN ACTIVE, EQUIPPED WITH F-35B FIGHTER JETS TO RESPOND TO ANY POTENTIAL THREATS.

FOR MORE OF OUR UNBIASED — STRAIGHT FACTS REPORTING — DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT US AT SAN – DOT – COM.