In the midst of the Ukraine war, Russia began large-scale military maneuvers involving more than 50,000 soldiers on Thursday. The nearly week-long exercise is being held in the east, thousands of miles from the fighting. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, countries such as China, India and Mongolia are also involved, as well as several ex-Soviet republics, with Belarus leading the way.
In this way, Russia wants to show solidarity with other countries in times of extreme tensions with the West. According to Moscow, 5,000 military vehicles, 140 aircraft and 60 warships and other boats will be used in the exercise “Vostok 2022” (“East 2022”). The maneuver will take place in military training areas in Eastern Siberia and the Far East, as well as in the Sea of Japan.
Relationship tense since incident at border
In particular, the participation of China and India in the maneuver attracted attention in the West. Relations between the world’s two most populous countries and the nuclear powers have been tense since a military incident at their common Himalayan border two years ago that left several dead.
India’s participation is also interesting because in recent months the country has always emphasized its neutrality in the Ukraine war and has declared good relations with Western countries and Russia. On the one hand, most of India’s military equipment comes from Russia, on the other, India, together with the US, Japan and Australia, is part of the Indo-Pacific Security Alliance Quad. In this mixed situation, India has held back from making official statements about the military exercises.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
