China, Russia to Hold First Joint Mediterranean Naval DrillsRussia and China to carry out joint manuevers in the Mediterranean Sea

Type 054A Frigate NATO codename Jiangkai II
According to news from USNI, China and Russia will hold joint naval drills in mid-May in the Mediterranean Sea. The manuevers will be the first time the two countries will hold military exercises together in this part of the world. According to the Chinese Defence Ministry, China and Russia have held naval drills in Pacific waters, but never before in the Med.
A total of nine ships (6 Russian and 3 Chinese) from the two countries will participate. The Chinese contingent will include vessels China now on anti-piracy patrols in waters off Somalia, Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng told a monthly news briefing.
The aim is to deepen both countries’ friendly and practical cooperation, and increase our navies’ ability to jointly deal with maritime security threats,” Geng said. What needs saying is that these exercises are not aimed at any third party and have nothing to do with the regional situation.
The Chinese Defense Ministry gave no specific date for the drills, which will be focused on navigation safety, at-sea replenishment, escort missions and live fire exercises. Announced back in November following a meeting between Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan in Beijing, it was made clear both countries are concerned about the United States’ “rebalance” toward the Pacific of late.
No other details have as yet been given.
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