Russia joined the armies of China, India, Syria and Belarus for a major military maneuver dubbed “Vostok-2022”.
A new show of power. A follower of large-scale military exercises, Moscow took the lead this Thursday in a major military maneuver being carried out in Russia’s Far East.
Dubbed “Vostok-2022”, the event brings together Russian, Chinese, Indian, Syrian and Belarusian armies until 7 September.
[ RUSSIE ]
The Vostok 2022 military exercise will begin on September 1. The Russian Ministry of Defense has indicated that 50,000 people, 5,000 pieces of weaponry, 200 planes and ships were mobilized with foreign contingents from Belarus, India, China or Syria. pic.twitter.com/kQKcI4iSL4
— (Slightly) Think Tank (@L_ThinkTank) August 30, 2022
“More than 50,000 troops, more than 5,000 military armaments and equipment, including 140 aircraft and 60 warships and support ships” will be deployed, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
“defensive and offensive actions”
The drills, under the command of Russia’s general staff, will consist of “training for defensive and offensive actions” on the ground, in the air, but also in the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk, the ministry said.
In the Sea of Japan, Russian and Chinese ships will train specifically to “maintain maritime communications” and to “support ground forces” in coastal areas.
These exercises take place in the context of strong tensions between Russia and Western countries on the one hand, because of the conflict in Ukraine, and on the other between China and the United States, because of tensions around Taiwan.
Washington regularly worries about rapprochement between China and Russia, which has close defense ties, saying it jeopardizes global security.