Myanmar & Russia naval forces start their 1st ever bilateral exercise.

According to information published by Tass on November 8, 2023, Russian and Myanmar naval forces have commenced their first-ever joint military exercises.
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Udaloy class destroyers Admiral Tributs and Admiral Panteleyev. (Picture source: Russian MoD)

The opening ceremony, held in Yangon, was presided over by the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, Admiral Nikolay Yevmenov, and his Myanmar counterpart, Admiral Moe Aung.

The exercises, involving ship crews from both nations, began their shore phase days ago, with tactical planning for the upcoming maritime phase and communication drills. The Russian defense ministry highlighted that training on the large anti-submarine ships, Udaloy class (Project 11551 Fregat-M) destroyers Admiral Tributs and Admiral Panteleyev included exercises for combat calculations, watch officers, helmsmen, signalmen, and inspection groups.

The practical segment of the drills, scheduled between November 7-9 in the Andaman Sea, focus on joint maneuvering, artillery firing at air and surface targets, submarine detection with maritime aviation, and repelling hypothetical terrorist attacks on ship squadrons.

Following the ceremony, the admirals visited a Myanmar naval training complex and planted a commemorative tree, symbolizing the start of the exercises. They also planned visits to the ships "Admiral Tributs" and "Admiral Panteleyev."

Russia-Myanmar relations

The defense relationship between Russia and Myanmar has significantly evolved, especially since 2014, when bilateral military-focused ties began to intensify. A key agreement in June 2016 solidified this partnership, with both nations signing a defense cooperation agreement.

This relationship deepened following a pivotal meeting in Moscow where Myanmar’s military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, met with Russian defense officials, leading to a commitment to strengthen defense cooperation, as announced in July 2022​​.

Russia, which provides 15% of Myanmar's arms imports, has been a crucial arms supplier to Myanmar's military, emphasizing the military dimension of their ties​​. After the coup in Myanmar, Russia's support became even more pronounced. Despite Western sanctions, Russia has maintained close ties with Myanmar's military junta, a stance that has been criticized by the U.S.

These defense relations are underpinned by the activities of Rostec, Russia's state-run defense conglomerate, which has been a significant equipment supplier to the Myanmar military​. Russia's strategic alignment with Myanmar was reiterated during meetings and visits, including the two visits made by General Min Aung Hlaing to Russia in 2022.