The Russian Military

Joint actions of Russia's Black See Fleet, Pacific Fleet and strategic aviation will show the country and the whole of the world that Russia can stand up for its interests even far from the RF borders
It has become a tradition already that when the Kremlin is expected to give answers to important questions but has none, the people have to listen to general phrases only instead of practical actions. This year, Vladimir Putin's state of the nation address (the third one over his presidency) contained general phrases concerning Russia's role in the world politics. Let's take the role of the world law and formation of a one-polar geopolitical system for example. 

Although Vladimir Putin didn't name the aspects directly, he sounded dissatisfied with formation of the US Empire. The dissatisfaction was so wonderfully disguised that nobody could even raise a claim because of it. It was quite clear that it couldn't develop into a program which would be understandable for all. Everything was said in such a manner that America stayed pleased. The whole of the state of the nation speech was permeated with the following idea: the Russia president hasn't shifted his ground and America must stay pleased.

Some warming in the relations between Russia and the USA that outlined after the 9/11 tragedy has been made null and void with the Iraqi war. Together with Paris and Berlin, Moscow censured the US aggression on Iraq and lost. The war ended rather quickly, and the Moscow-Berlin-Paris foreign political axis that just began to outline as an opposition to the axis Washington-London-Madrid, joined its Maker. The former allies are at a standstill waiting for the USA to temper justice with mercy. But Uncle Sam is making not a move on with forgiving the disobedient; accusations against Paris and Berlin are voiced in the USA almost every day.

In defiance of the historical tradition, Vladimir Putin staked on establishing closer relations with the USA and risked to be misunderstood by the people. It is really a hard task to change the Russian mode of thinking: it is typical of many generations that the USA is mostly treated as an enemy. Vladimir Putin risked doing so; he was one of the first to announce Russia’s joining the anti-terror coalition. China, for instance, hesitated to join the coalition to the last. Beijing strategists first calculated all advantages and disadvantages, but only then declared the intention to join the coalition.

For the time being, it is perfectly obvious what Russia has got as a result of its "warm" relations with the USA. The NATO troops have neared the Russian borders very close; Russia is losing the Caucasus region; an attempt to establish closer relations with Europe during the Iraqi war failed. May it even happen so that Washington will include Russia into the "axis of evil"? You may say it is impossible: Russia is not Iraq, it has nuclear weapons. However, this situation can be suggested just hypothetically. Now it is not obligatorily that disagreeable countries are treated insolently, there are other effective measures, economic and other sanctions for example.

As Russia was apprehensive that some sanctions might be applied to the country, it was decided to demonstrate its might. It was right at that very moment that an idea of military exercises was suggested.
Russia-India naval exercises started in the Indian Ocean yesterday. Vessels of the Black Sea and Pacific fleets of the Russian Federation, of two Indian Navy fleets are taking part in the exercises, Russian television Rossiya reports. As Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov declared the other day, vessels of Russia's Black Sea and Pacific fleets, of India's Navy would hold exercises in the Arabian Sea and in the Bay of Bengal, near the eastern shores of India.

Nine ships of Russia's Black Sea and Pacific fleets, including the Moskva missile cruiser, the Marshall Shaposhnikov and Admiral Panteleyev anti-submarine ships have been standing in the Indian Ocean on alert for exercises. The Indian naval forces are to be represented with battleship formations, including torpedo-boat destroyers and frigates. The exercises are to last for 2.5 weeks. Main objectives of the action are to practice joint manoeuvring, gunnery against targets at sea and in the air, fighting against assumed inimical submarines and rendering aid to crews of wrecked vessels. 

The joint actions of the two fleets and the strategic aviation will show the whole of the world that Russia can stand up for its interests even far from the Russian frontier. It has a strong potential for it. The Middle East and South-Eastern Asia still remain the areas of tension where main bases of the international terrorism are located. That is why any accidents may occur during the exercises.

The moment for this large-scale and expensive demonstration of the might is very convenient. Originally, the exercises were scheduled for February, but were postponed because of the Iraqi conflict. The exercises coincide with ratification of the Strategic Offensive Reduction Treaty, with statements saying that the USA won't have other countries from "the axis of evil" as its targets, also with a new stage of Russia-NATO cooperation. At the same time, the new operation is to prove that Russia is ready for partnership with the West, but at that it highlights its interests and demonstrates the military potential.