Russia Steps Up Presence in Indian Ocean

Voice of America News reports: “Russia docked warships in Bangladesh for the first time in five decades earlier this month and held its first joint naval exercises with Myanmar as Moscow eyes a greater role in the Indian Ocean region and looks to bolster ties with smaller countries in Asia.

Analysts say India is not averse to Russia, its old ally and largest supplier of defense equipment, stepping up its presence in its maritime neighborhood despite New Delhi’s deepening partnership with the United States, Japan and Australia to counter China’s expanding footprint in the strategic waters.

Ignoring pressure from its Western partners, New Delhi has maintained its decades-long relationship with Moscow and taken a neutral stand on the war in Ukraine.

‘India has been keen for Russia to play a more active role in the Indo-Pacific because it suits New Delhi’s larger strategic goal of what it calls a multipolar global order. New Delhi believes a multipolar Asia is key to building a multipolar world,’ Praveen Donthi, Senior Analyst, India, at the International Crisis Group, told VOA. ‘So far it has shown skill in navigating such strategic dilemmas, for instance on the Ukraine war.’

Russia’s Defense Ministry called the naval drills held with Myanmar in the Andaman Sea from November 7 to 9 ‘the first Russian-Myanmar naval exercise in modern history.’ Two anti-submarine ships, Admiral Tributs and Admiral Panteleyev of the Russian Pacific Fleet, participated in the exercises with a frigate and a corvette from Myanmar’s navy…”

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