Vostok Exercise 2022

• 02 Sep 2022

Why in News?

Recently, India joined a multilateral strategic and command Exercise Vostok - 2022 in Russia along with China among other countries.

What is Exercise Vostok?

• It will involve troops from several ex-Soviet nations, China, India, Laos, Mongolia, Nicaragua and Syria.
  • The Indian Army was represented by the contingent of troops from 7/8 Gorkha Rifles.
• It is aimed at interaction and coordination amongst other participating military contingents and observers.
• The Vostok 2022 exercise will be held at seven firing ranges in Russia's Far East and the Sea of Japan and involve more than 50,000 troops and over 5,000 weapons units, including 140 aircraft and 60 warships.
• The Indian Army contingent will look forward to sharing practical aspects and putting into practice the validated drills, procedures and practice amalgamation of new technology through discussions and tactical exercises.

What are India’s Exercises with China & Russia?

• China:
  • Exercise Hand-in-Hand:
    • The aim of the exercise is to practice joint planning and conduct of counter terrorist operations in semi urban terrain.
• Russia:
  • Exercise Indra:
    • The exercise will entail the conduct of counter terror operations under the United Nations mandate by a joint force against international terror groups.
    • The INDRA series of exercises began in 2003 and was conducted as a bilateral naval exercise alternately between the two countries.
      • However, the first joint Tri-Services Exercise was conducted in 2017.
  • Exercise TSENTR:
    • Exercise TSENTR 2019 is part of the annual series of large-scale exercises that form part of the Russian Armed Forces' annual training cycle.
  • Exercise ZAPAD 2021:
    • It is a multinational exercise in which 17 countries including India, China, Russia and Pakistan are part of it.
      • It focuses primarily on operations against terrorists.

Source: TH