Vladimir Putin launches biggest post-Soviet naval drills

President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday warned the United States against trying to outgun Moscow in Asia as Russian and Chinese warships held joint drills as part of the biggest Russian naval exercises since the Soviet era.

Putin said the wider “Ocean-2024” strategic exercise would be conducted from the Mediterranean to the Pacific and would test units’ combat-readiness and the use of high-precision weapons, including promising new types.

It would also incorporate lessons learned from Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine. “We pay special attention to strengthening military cooperation with friendly states,” he told military officials.

“Today, in the context of growing geopolitical tensions in the world, this is especially important. We see that the United States of America is trying to maintain its global military and political dominance at any cost.”

The drills with China are part of much larger Russian manoeuvres that will run until September 16.

Navy commander Alexander told Putin that the drills would involve more than 90,000 Russian servicemen, over 400 vessels, 125 aircraft and more than 7,500 units of weaponry.