The Russian president visited a major military exercise on Tuesday that Russia is conducting alongside China and several other countries, the Kremlin said. A Norwegian expert believes there are three reasons why China is involved.
Less than 10 minutes ago
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Putin met with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Defense Chief Valery Gerasimov at the Sergeevsky military range. The Russian president could then observe the final phase of the exercise, says Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Under the leadership of the host country Russia, Chinese military troops will participate in the “Vostok” military exercise from 1 to 7 September.
Vostok means east. The exercise takes place in the “Far East” of Russia and in the waters off the east coast.
In total, just over 50,000 troops, 140 aircraft and 60 warships are participating in the exercise, according to the independent online newspaper. Moscow times.
But Professor Øystein Tunsjø, a professor in Norwegian Defense College’s Department of Defense Studies, believes the number of attendees this year is exaggerated.
– Exaggerated
– Attendance was lower than expected, but Russians are expected to inflate those numbers. There were no 50,000 soldiers there. Previously it was said that the Chinese would contribute 10,000 soldiers, but now I see several people reporting that they would only contribute 2,000, Tunsjø says.
Four years ago, 300,000 soldiers took part in the same exercise.
In any case, it is not the number of soldiers that matters most, the professor points out:
– The most important thing to report something is to show that you participate. And I think it is special that this exercise takes place despite the ongoing war in Ukraine.
He points out that the military exercise was amputated because Russia does not have the opportunity to send so many forces to the exercise due to the war.
– And the other 13 participating countries are probably proceeding with some caution and sending in smaller forces than usual. There is some risk associated with participating here.
Tunsjø believes that China wants to take part in the exercise for three reasons:
1. China will demonstrate that it maintains normal good relations with Russia
2. They want to signal to the West that they will not be pressured to stop cooperation with Russia
3. They don’t want to be alone
Chinese authorities have previously stated that participation in a Russian military exercise unrelated to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
According to The Guardian Beijing explained the choice to send Chinese troops to military exercises in Vostok as part of the “ongoing cooperation with Moscow”.
Just before Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, Beijing and Moscow announced a “unlimited” cooperation. Tunsjø believes it is special that China was willing to make such a statement in the escalation of the war against Ukraine and says it also sends signals on the future direction.
Russia buys weapons from North Korea
The Russian defense ministry is buying millions of rockets and artillery shells from North Korea, according to a US intelligence report.
Russia has reportedly been forced to purchase weapons from North Korea as Western sanctions strain its ability to provide invasion force in Ukraine, reports BBC.
According to several American media, including New York TimesRussia bought millions of artillery shells and rockets from the capital Pyongyang.
In recent opinion poll from the Levada constituency shows that only 48 percent of Russians want to continue the war. 44 percent will go into peace negotiations. The rest answer I do not know.
Check out the videos Russia released from the exercise here:
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