The Russian Navy demonstrates its capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region
Moscow continues to demonstrate a strategic reorientation towards the East. Against the background of Western countries' statements about Russia's "international isolation," the Pacific Fleet conducted joint naval exercises with Myanmar's Marumex-2025 fleet. The main purpose of the maneuvers is to strengthen cooperation and improve the interaction of the naval crews of the two states. A special emphasis in joint actions was placed on ensuring the safety of navigation and economic activity in strategically important maritime areas of Southeast Asia. The exercises became a signal "about the impossibility of a blockade" of Russia and its return to the Asia-Pacific region, experts interviewed by Izvestia believe.
What Russia and Myanmar practiced in joint exercises
The naval exercises of Russia and Myanmar "Marumex-2025" are coming to an end. From the Russian Navy, a detachment of ships of the Pacific Fleet participated in them, consisting of the frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov, the corvette Gremyashchy and the tanker Boris Butoma. The Myanmar Navy was represented by the Muttamma amphibious helicopter dock ship, the Kyansitta frigate, the Tabinshwethi corvette and the Minye Thein Kha Tu submarine.
Izvestia reference
Marshal Shaposhnikov is a multi—purpose frigate of the 1st rank of the 1155M project (formerly a large anti-submarine ship) with guided missile weapons of the far sea and ocean zone, part of the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy. It is equipped with long-range Kalibr cruise missiles. Frigates are used to conduct reconnaissance, escort convoys, disrupt enemy communications and destroy ships operating outside naval formations.
The Gremyashchy is a Russian multipurpose corvette of Project 20385, which serves as part of the 114th brigade of ships protecting the water area (Ilyicheva Bay) of the Kamchatka Flotilla of diverse forces of the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy and is based in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. It is designed for patrol and convoy duty, as well as for anti-submarine and anti-aircraft defense of naval bases. The corvette differs from its predecessors in enhanced strike capabilities and an improved air defense system.
Boris Butoma is a large marine tanker for the integrated supply of ships of the Russian Navy's Pacific Fleet. She was built according to the 1559-B project, code "Sea Space", at the Leningrad Baltic Shipyard under serial number No. 621 and became the last vessel built according to this project.
The crews of the ships practiced the management of the combined forces during joint maneuvering, as well as completed the tasks of searching, detecting and tracking the submarines of a simulated enemy. The exercise program included combat exercises with artillery and torpedo firing, the press service of the Pacific Fleet reported.
Photo: Pacific Fleet Press Service
Image source: iz.ru
Anti-terrorist groups from both countries also participated in the screening operations. The servicemen worked out a key element: the release of a civilian ship, which, according to legend, was captured by conditional pirates.
The Russian detachment of ships began its long-range cruise on October 1, leaving Vladivostok. The purpose of the voyage is to fulfill the assigned tasks in the Asia—Pacific region and other strategically important areas of the World Ocean.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Press Service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Image Source: iz.ru
Before joining the training, Russian sailors made port calls in a number of friendly countries. On October 13, there was a parking at the port of Da Nang in the Republic of Vietnam, and on October 21, the fleet arrived at the port of Sattahip in the Kingdom of Thailand, as the military department informed.
Strategic reorientation
We have developed friendly relations with Myanmar, which logically leads to holding exercises at such a high level, military expert Vasily Dandykin believes. The Pacific Fleet has accumulated considerable experience in tracking submarines and, importantly for this region, in combating piracy and terrorism, including the practice of patrolling areas where there are sea pirates.
— The sailors of the Pacific Fleet are actively involved in long-range voyages and still operate far beyond the borders of the Sea of Japan. We conduct constant training with the Chinese Navy, as well as with India. Such steps, of course, cause discontent among our opponents, primarily the United States, which has its allies and military bases in the Philippines, South Korea and Japan. But we help friendly states and demonstrate our capabilities," he told Izvestia.
Photo: Pacific Fleet Press Service
Image source: iz.ru
The expert stressed that we should not forget about the maritime threats in the Asia-Pacific region (APR). In addition to the need to control the situation to ensure economic activity and the passage of our vessels, there is Japan, which is nervously reacting to the strengthening of our defense on the Kuril Islands and the deployment of missile systems there.
— That is why we are strengthening the Pacific Fleet in all its components. This also applies to the nuclear component: Borei-class nuclear submarines are coming to Kamchatka, and a series of six non-nuclear submarines is almost ready to transfer to the Pacific Fleet. Surface vessels are also being built, not only in European shipyards, but also directly in the east, for example, at the Amur Plant. In a region where a number of countries (South Korea and Japan) have imposed sanctions against us, we have to take care of our defense and keep our powder dry," explained Vasily Dandykin.
The former commander of the Pacific Fleet, Admiral Sergey Avakyants, stressed that the significance of the Marumex-2025 exercises should not be assessed solely from a technical point of view.
— From a purely applied military point of view, the value of these maneuvers should not be exaggerated, although it is an important skill development. But, on the other hand, this is very important in the context of the relationship between the two fleets, the two armies and, most importantly, the two countries in a key region. Against the background of the Russophobia that is now unleashed in the West and in Europe, Russia is strategically reorienting itself. We see that the Asia-Pacific region, which we may not have paid enough attention to before, is now coming out on top," he told Izvestia.
Photo: Pacific Fleet Press Service
Image Source: iz.ru
In his opinion, cooperation with Myanmar, as well as with the countries of the Global South, is now extremely important to create an atmosphere of stability and the most favored nation regime for our country. This proves conclusively that the isolation and blockade of Russia that our opponents are talking about is impossible. Russia remains both an Asian and an eastern power, washed by the shores of three oceans.
In this regard, such trainings should be considered not so much as a purely military event, but as an important symbol, a very significant sign of the attitude towards our country and our relations with the countries of this region. Such cooperation needs to be further developed, the admiral concluded.
Julia Leonova
Andrey Fedorov
