Russia on Thursday began large-scale joint military exercises with China, India, Belarus and other Asian countries with the aim of “ensuring military security” in the region and “strengthening” relations with its allies.
The maneuvers, designated as Vostok 2022, will last until September 7 with more than 50,000 soldiers, more than 5,000 weapons and other military equipment, as well as 140 aircraft and 60 warships, boats and vessels.
During these exercises, the troops will carry out joint tasks for the “practical development of defensive and offensive actions”, simulating “peacekeeping” and protection of “common interests”, according to a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry.
Ensuring “security” in the eastern region will be another aspect of the actions developed during the exercises, according to the same source.
In addition to the armed forces of Russia, China, India and Belarus, these military exercises involve soldiers from Azerbaijan, Algeria, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and Tajikistan.
Nicaragua, Syria, Kazakhstan and Laos are also participating.
Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin said on Monday that these joint military exercises are of a “purely defensive nature” and are not directed against any military alliance or any other country in particular, according to the Interfax News agency.
Source: DN
