In late August 2022, Russian military drills will see the participation of Indian and Chinese troops. This event marks the first major war games organized by Russia since its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. It should be noted that India’s Ministry of External Affairs has not commented on the matter, but the Chinese Defence Ministry has stated that the exercise is ‘unrelated’ to regional conditions.
The Military Drill: An Overview
Russia, leading the drill, welcomes troops from several countries besides India and China. Participants include Belarus, Mongolia, Tajikistan among others. The military drill will span from 30th August to 5th September 2022 and will take place at various military facilities located in Russia.
Observers worldwide are expected to closely monitor this week-long event, especially in light of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. The exercises will include the airborne forces, long-range military transport aircraft, as well as military contingents from different countries.
India’s Military Exercises with China and Russia
India participates in various military exercises with both China and Russia. These exercises aim at enhancing military cooperation and learning between the nations.
China: Exercise Hand-in-Hand
The primary goal of this exercise is to practice joint planning and execution of counter-terrorist operations in semi-urban terrain. It strengthens the cooperative relationship between the two nations and works towards a common goal of maintaining regional peace and stability.
Russia: Exercise Indra
Exercise Indra is a joint exercise that involves operations against international terror groups under the mandate of the United Nations. Initiated in 2003 as a bilateral naval exercise, it alternates annually between the two participating countries. The first joint Tri-Services Exercise was conducted in 2017, marking a significant milestone in the history of Indo-Russian defense cooperation.
Russia: Exercise TSENTR
Exercise TSENTR is part of an annual series of large-scale exercises incorporated in the Russian Armed Forces’ annual training cycle. The series rotates through Russia’s four main operational strategic commands: Vostok (East), Zapad (West), TSENTR (Centre), and Kavkas (South). The 2019 edition of the exercise helped in improving the operational readiness of the participating troops.
These collaborative military exercises not only enhance international relationships but also contribute to maintaining global peace and stability. Despite the varying geopolitical landscape, such initiatives facilitate dialogue, understanding, and mutual learning among the armed forces of different countries.
