INDRA 2017: Joint Drill with Russia, in Russia

- Sivarajini R (sivachonat17@gmail.com)

India and Russia have been known to world as friends of all weather, taking the friendship ahead both the countries conduct joint military drills every year to tackle any future threat to nations’ security. However, unlike past military drills between India and Russia, INDRA 2017, will be the first drill to include tri-services of India outside the country.

Commencing from 19th October the 11-day exercise will comprise 350 Army personnel and 80 Air force personnel, two IL76 aircraft, one Frigate and corvette each from the Navy, the Ministry of Defence stated in a magazine.

As reported by PTI, the 11-day exercise is conducted at the 249th Combined Army Range Sergeevisky and in the Sea of Japan near Vladivostok with1000 troops of the fifth Army, Marine and ships of Pacific fleet and aircraft from Eastern Military District representing Russia.

Speaking to the media,Lt. General SathishDua, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff said, “the scope of exercise would include professional interactions, establishment of joint commands and control structures between Indian and Russian forces and elimination of terrorist threat in a multinational environment under the UN mandate and that previous nine editions has been conducted as a single service exercise alternately between the two countries”.

However, according to a Japanese news channel, observers say that India wants to demonstrate to China its growing relationship with Russia as China has been strengthening its influence on other Asian countries through its increased maritime activities, others say that Russia wants to stress its relationship with India to the United States which has expanded its presence in east Asia to counter North Korea.