Every four years, Russia likes to show its muscles to the world, by organizing large-scale military exercises with its allies. But the “Vostok-2022” edition is, more than the previous ones, of capital importance for the Kremlin. While its army is marking time in its conquest of Ukraine, Russia intends to show that it has a large reservoir of men and equipment. And while she seems isolated on the international scene, this meeting intends to prove that she still has friends, including a very powerful one. This is why, this Tuesday, September 6, Vladimir Putin went in person to the Sergeyevsky military training ground, in the Far East of the country, to “observe the final phase of the exercises”.
Since September 1, and until the 7, more than 50,000 Russian soldiers have taken part in “defensive and offensive actions”, on land, in the air and at sea. The opportunity for the Russian Ministry of Defense to clarify that “only part of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is involved in the special military operation, the number of which is quite sufficient to fulfill all the tasks set by the government.” However, if we compare to the “Vostock-2018” edition, during which 300,000 Russian soldiers were gathered, that of 2022 seems, with its 50,000 men, very disappointing. Most of the forces are therefore occupied in Ukraine, and the construction of two factories supposed to repair damaged armored vehicles proves that the reserve of equipment is dwindling over the weeks of fighting. So, to look good, Moscow can turn to the profile of one of its guests: China.
India among the participants
Since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, Beijing has found itself in an uncomfortable situation, neither approving nor condemning the designs of Vladimir Putin. Officially, according to the spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of Defense, the participation of the Chinese armed forces in the “Vostok 2022” exercise aims “to deepen cooperation with the armies of other participants, to improve the level of strategic coordination and to strengthen the capacity to deal with various threats”. In fact, this participation serves above all to oppose the United States even more, by showing them, in particular, that the visit of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, to Taiwan – a country that China considers an integral part of its territory and which it intends to recover one day – will not remain without consequences.
The exercises planned in the Sea of Japan also send a message to Tokyo, which has bad relations with China, as well as with Russia. Thus, aware of the strategic importance of this edition, Beijing has mobilized, to become the co-leader of the anti-Western world, 2,000 soldiers, 300 vehicles, 21 planes and three warships.
If China is the most powerful guest, Belarus and Syria, vassal countries of Russia, are also present. Just like India. The member of the Quad alliance, with the United States, Japan and Australia in the Indo-Pacific zone, also maintains important military and energy links with Russia, which is its first supplier of crude oil. Diplomatically, India has also always chosen to abstain when the UN General Assembly puts a resolution related to the war in Ukraine to a vote. Its participation is therefore not so surprising, even if it requires a certain balance: India has thus refused to participate in the maritime exercises planned in the Sea of Japan.