The Chinese and Pakistani navies are engaged in weeklong drills in the Arabian Sea, conducting exercises in the waters and airspace of the northern Arabian Sea, including anti-submarine operations. The joint drills, initiated at a naval base in Karachi, will also involve China and Pakistan conducting joint maritime patrols for the first time, scheduled to conclude on Nov 17. This collaboration reflects the deepening security ties between the two nations.
Simultaneously, the Russian Pacific Fleet and Myanmar conducted what Moscow termed as “the first Russian-Myanmar naval exercise in modern history.” Taking place from Nov 7-9 in the Andaman Sea, this marked a significant milestone for Russia’s naval presence in a region considered a global security interest by the United States. The exercise involved large Russian anti-submarine ships, Admiral Tributs and Admiral Panteleyev, engaging in drills with a frigate and a corvette from Myanmar’s navy.
As security ties evolve in the region, the U.S. and India engaged in defense talks in New Delhi on Nov. 10. During the “2+2 Dialogue,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin discussed deep concerns over the conflict in Ukraine but did not explicitly mention Russia. The joint statement highlighted their commitment to safeguarding a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Notably, the joint statement did not mention China, despite being a key focus point in the talks, reflecting New Delhi’s delicate balance between its longstanding relations with Russia and its strengthening ties with the United States. With a highly anticipated meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping in San Francisco approaching, the talks aim to navigate a re-establishment of military-to-military ties with Beijing.
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