Putin sending clear threat to US with China military drills

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

David Ochmanek, senior international and defence researcher, speaking to CBS News, said Putin was sending two clear messages with the carrying out of his latest “Vostok” exercises in the east of the country, joint drills that include China and India among others. As hundreds of thousands of soldiers congregate for the exercises, Mr Ochmanek said Russia was proving to the world that despite difficulties in Ukraine, it still boasted a formidable military outfit and had allies that were willing to join them. It comes as the US said it “has concerns about any country exercising with Russia” while the war in Ukraine is still going on, suggesting a fear that the pool of enemy troops in Ukraine could be expanded. 

Mr Ochmanek said: “I think it is very much intended to send a message to the world and there are two messages, on Putin’s behalf,  that I take from it.

“One is, from Russia’s part, they are saying ‘Look, we are down but we are not out. Yes, we have suffered some serious losses and casualties in Ukraine over the last six months, but we still have game. 

“‘We can put 50,000 men into the field in the far eastern parts of our country for major manoeuvres.’ That is message one.

“Message two is [Russia] still has friends. Now, it is a short list of friends, which includes the likes of Laos and Nicaragua, but the fact that China and India are willing to send some of their forces to these exercises is a positive for Russia, I think. 

Soldiers from the Indian army have landed in Russia for a week-long military exercise, India’s defence ministry said on Thursday, days after the United States said it had concerns about any country exercising with Russia now.

The Indian government sought to play down their participation in the drills, saying that its forces have regularly participated in multilateral exercises in Russia, along with a number of other countries. Russia is the biggest supplier of military hardware to India.

An Indian Army contingent “arrived at the exercise location and over the next seven days will undertake joint manoeuvres to include joint field training exercises, combat discussions, and firepower exercises”, the Indian defence ministry said in a statement.

Moscow announced in late July that it would hold the “Vostok” (East) exercise in the east of the country, despite waging a six-month-long war in Ukraine, where it has suffered heavy losses of personnel and equipment. 

China, Belarus, Mongolia and Tajikistan will also take part in the exercise in the eastern corner of Russia and in the Sea of Japan. 

The United States, which has deepened its military partnership with India in recent years, has indicated its discomfort with Indian troops joining the exercise in Russia.

“The United States has concerns about any country exercising with Russia while Russia wages an unprovoked, brutal war against Ukraine,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday.

”But, of course, every participating country will make its own decisions.”

DON’T MISS: Putin pays respect to Gorbachev as he flees to shady enclave [REVEAL] 
Nowhere to hide: Putin nightmare as Ukraine to deploy micro-drones [REPORT] 
Europe faces nuclear meltdown: Power plant bombs spark emergency  [REPORT] 

The previous Vostok drills in 2018 took place on a massive scale with nearly 300,000 troops reported to be involved, including for the first time from the Chinese army.

This is not the first time this year, however, that Russia has engaged in military exercises with foreign countries. 

In May, two Russian bombers joined two Chinese military planes in an exercise flying towards the East China Sea near Japan while US President Joe Biden was in Tokyo for the Quad summit with Australia and India. 

The Japanese defence minister Nobuo Kishi called the excursion a “provocation” to peace in the IndoPacific as the military planes threatened Japanese airspace. 

READ NEXT: Putin sparks ‘sheer angst’ in Germany after gas cut
Putin’s war set for new front as Ukraine targets Crimea bases
Zelensky’s border guards destroy ammo base and take out Russians 
Putin’s military crisis — Ukraine forces move to ‘strangle and weaken’
Energy crisis lifeline as space-based power to deal hammer blow to Put

Source: Read Full Article