The Russian Navy announced today that it will participate in the AMAN-2021 military exercise off Pakistan in February next year. The exercise, which is expected to involve 30 countries, will be the first time in 10 years that the Russian Navy will participate with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries.
AFP reports that the announcement was made in a statement by Russia’s Southern Military District. Of the 30 countries participating in the exercise, 10 will send their fleets and the rest will send observers.
According to a statement issued by the Black Sea Fleet, which will represent Russia in next year’s exercise, other participating countries include China, Japan and Pakistan, while NATO countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States and Turkey will also send their fleets, RIA reported.
The last time the Russian Navy participated in a military exercise with fleets from several NATO countries was back in 2011, when it took part in the Bold Monarch exercise off Spain.
Russia and the U.S.-led NATO have had a difficult relationship in recent years due to the suspension of relations after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Russia’s chief of staff, Valery Gerasimov, also accused NATO in September of increasing its forces near the Russian border. NATO also released a report earlier this month stating that Russia is likely to remain a major source of threat to NATO in the next 10 years.
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