Russia to take part in navy drills alongside Nato for first time in 10 years
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Russia plans to send a frigate, a patrol ship, a tugboat, a sea-based helicopter, among others.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE/BRITAIN'S DEFENCE MINISTRY
MOSCOW (REUTERS) - The Russian navy said on Thursday (Dec 10) it would take part in drills involving more than 30 countries off the coast of Pakistan, the first time in a decade that its vessels have taken part in exercises alongside Nato ships.
The Aman-2021 anti-piracy drills are set to be held in waters near Karachi in February next year and will involve British, US, Turkish, Chinese, Japanese and other forces, the Russian defence ministry said in a statement.
Russia plans to send a frigate, a patrol ship, a tugboat, a sea-based helicopter and some other units, it said on its website.
Russian and navy vessels from Nato, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, last took part in drills together at the Nato-led Bold Monarch exercises in 2011 off the coast of Spain, it was quoted by the Tass news agency as saying.
Ties between Russia and the West are languishing at post-Cold War lows, strained by everything from Russia's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimea to allegations of hacking US elections and Syria.
