For the first time in three decades, Russia has deployed its war fleet on an unprecedented scale, involving 400 ships, 120 aircraft, and 90,000 soldiers across multiple seas and oceans. Alongside Moscow, China is actively participating, strengthening a strategic military alliance amid growing tensions with the United States and its allies.
Russia and China Conduct Major Naval Exercises in the Pacific and Arctic: A Strategic Challenge to the West
By Alban Albanese
Published on September 12, 2024 11:13 am
Russia has launched a large-scale naval military exercise, named Okean-2024, involving over 400 ships, including submarines and support vessels, along with 120 aircraft and nearly 90,000 soldiers. This exercise is taking place in the Pacific and Arctic oceans, as well as in the Mediterranean, Baltic, and Caspian Seas, marking Russia's first naval display of this magnitude in over thirty years. The maneuvers aim to test the combat readiness of Russian naval forces, assess the use of precision weapons, and enhance military cooperation with partner countries, particularly China.
Strengthened Cooperation with China
China's participation in these exercises underscores the deepening military ties between Moscow and Beijing. The Chinese naval forces are contributing with several warships, submarines, and air units, conducting joint maneuvers in the Gulf of Peter the Great, near Vladivostok, and in the Sea of Okhotsk. This joint effort aims to bolster maritime defense, practice anti-submarine warfare operations, and improve maritime logistics. This cooperation occurs against a backdrop of increased rivalry with the United States, marking a direct challenge to Western influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
A Strong Geopolitical Signal
The Okean-2024 exercise is not merely an assessment of the operational capacity of Russian armed forces but also a show of force designed to project the image of a naval power capable of operating simultaneously across multiple maritime theaters. Russia is using these maneuvers to demonstrate its ability to protect its economic and strategic interests against perceived threats from NATO and the United States. By participating in these exercises, China also sends a clear message of its readiness to support Russia militarily and assert its own naval ambitions in a rapidly changing multipolar world.
International Reactions and Regional Tensions
The maneuvers have raised concerns among regional neighbors, particularly in Norway, where the increased activity of the Northern Fleet and the Baltic Fleet has been closely monitored. In Japan, the presence of Chinese ships in the Sea of Japan has heightened existing tensions, with Tokyo observing these movements with increased vigilance due to their potential implications for maritime security and the balance of power in the region.
Strategic Objectives and Implications
For Moscow, the primary goal of Okean-2024 is to improve the management of naval force groups, test the capabilities of precision weapon systems, and strengthen cooperation with partner countries' navies. By deploying such power, Russia seeks not only to assert its sovereignty over its territorial waters but also to send a warning to Western powers about its ability to respond effectively in the event of conflict. China's active participation in these exercises reflects its desire to bolster its role as a key ally of Russia and demonstrate its own military might in the face of challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
Through these maneuvers, Russia and China reaffirm their commitment to positioning themselves as major players in maritime defense, while consolidating their alliance against growing international pressures.