Will Russia's exercises grow into a military alliance against NATO? In addition to Russia, China and the former Soviet republics, other countries will take part in the Vostok-22 exercises, which proves their readiness for military cooperation with Moscow.
How these exercises differ from all previous ones and whether Russia will be able to conclude a new military alliance to confront NATO, Sky News tells.
The Vostok-2022 exercises will last until September 7 at seven combat ranges in the Russian Far East, as well as in the waters of the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk. According to the Ministry of Defense, they involve more than 50,000 military personnel and more than 5,000 pieces of military equipment, including 140 aircraft and 60 warships.
The Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, General Valery Gerasimov, personally oversees the maneuvers involving the forces of several former Soviet republics, as well as China, India, Laos, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Syria and Algeria.
As reported by the Ministry of Defense, as part of the exercises in the Sea of Japan, the Russian and Chinese Navies are jointly practicing the protection of maritime communications, areas of maritime economic activity and support for ground forces in coastal areas.
The strongest armies in the world
The Vostok-2022 exercises involve the combined forces of the second and third largest armies of the world (Russia and China), as well as India, which has the fourth most powerful armed forces in the world.
The opening ceremony took place at the Sergeyevsky training ground in Primorsky Krai.
What are the consequences?
According to researchers and military experts, the current large-scale exercises are clear evidence of Russia's determination to lay the foundation for a strong military alliance opposing the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in light of the growing tensions between Moscow and Beijing, on the one hand, and Washington, on the other.
Hassan Al-Muni, Professor of International Relations and a specialist in conflict resolution, notes: "The exercises are taking place amid rapid changes in the world, in the midst of an open confrontation between major powers, Russia and China, on the one hand, and NATO countries, on the other. Naturally, this indicates the strengthening of military cooperation between them. Nevertheless, it has not reached the level of the alliance, despite the strength of their bilateral relations."
India's involvement
"It should be noted that despite strong political and trade relations with the West, India is also participating in the exercises. This represents an advantage for Russia and China in the context of their conflict with Western countries, indicating the ability of these states to attract large and influential allies to their side and make changes in international relations and the balance of power," the expert believes.
Muhannad al-Azzawi, head of the Sakr Center for Strategic Studies, said in an interview with Sky News Arabia: "Although these maneuvers may seem traditional, in fact they are not, since they involve two Arab states, as well as a country that is not part of the Asian strategic alliances. It's about India."
Objectives of the exercises
The purpose of the Vostok-22 exercises is to prove that Moscow has sufficient military potential to conduct intensive exercises, despite the participation of its army in a major special operation in Ukraine.
According to Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin, the main objectives of the Vostok-2022 exercises are to improve the skills of commanders and staffs in managing interspecific and coalition groups of troops in repelling aggression in the eastern direction and to increase the level of interaction between army units within the coalition in carrying out joint tasks to preserve peace, ensure security and protect interests in the eastern direction. region.
