Putin warns US against arms race as Russia and China begin major naval drills

On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the US against trying to outpace Moscow in armament efforts in Asia, as Russia embarked on its largest post-Soviet naval drills, with China also participating.

Putin stated that Russia must be prepared for any developments, accusing Washington of provoking an arms race, specifically mentioning US plans to deploy short- and intermediate-range missiles in the Asia-Pacific region, according to Reuters.

Russian and Chinese navies have commenced military exercises in the northern Sea of Japan to bolster protection of “economic activities” in the area, as announced by the Russian Defense Ministry.

While Russia did not specify the number of its ships in the Sea of Japan, it confirmed the presence of four Russian warships and a Chinese supply vessel in the region. The Defense Ministry noted on Telegram that the drills with China focus on “defending maritime routes and areas of maritime economic activity.”

The ships are stationed in the Peter the Great Gulf, near Vladivostok in Russia’s far east.

China announced, on Monday, that it will hold joint military exercises with Russia this month around the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk, off the Russian coast.

Relations between Moscow and Beijing have strengthened since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which China has not condemned.