Myanmar and Russia are holding their first joint naval exercise in the Andaman Sea, state media reported on Tuesday.
Joint Maritime Drill
State-run newspaper Global New Light of Myanmar (GNLM), reported that the maritime security exercise with Russia is being held 157 km west of Myeik in Myanmar’s far south, and would run till Thursday.
State television MRTV added that some Russian navy vessels had sailed from Yangon to take part.
The three-day drill involves aircraft and naval vessels, and focuses on defending against threats from air, sea, and land, as well as other maritime security measures, the reports said.
Just a day prior to the exercise, the GNLM said that the military government’s leader — Senior General Min Aung Hlaing — had met with Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov — the commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy — at Thilawa port in the southern part of Yangon.
The Russian officer welcomed an inspection by the Myanmar leader, who reviewed a guard of honour and toured one of the Russian vessels.
In addition, Yevmenov also briefed Min Aung Hlaing on the capacity of Russian weapons, installation of modern systems, and an anti-submarine helicopter.
Russia and the Myanmar junta begin joint naval exercises in the Andaman Sea. Prior to commencing the exercises, Russia’s navy chief Yevmenov met junta leader Min Aung Hlaing aboard a Russian destroyer. https://t.co/Qk9yW4Fh8C @AFP pic.twitter.com/VEZmuvVhIU
— AMTI (@AsiaMTI) November 8, 2023
Russia-Myanmar Ties
In May, Tom Andrews, the UN independent investigator on human rights in Myanmar, said in his report that the Myanmar military has imported at least $1 billion in arms and raw materials to manufacture weapons, since the military coup in February 2021, from countries including Russia, China, and India.
Of this, $406 million in weapons and materials came from Russia — the country’s largest weapons supplier.
Since the junta’s 2021 takeover, the report said, 28 Russian private and state-owned companies had gamed the international sanctions imposed on the Southeast Asian country and transferred fighter jets and their spare parts, advanced missile systems, reconnaissance and attack drones, attack helicopters and other systems to Myanmar’s military.
Moreover, Moscow has shielded Naypyidaw from international backlash for its undemocratic actions and rights abuses. Being a permanent member of the 15-member UN Security Council has allowed Russia to repeatedly veto or delay resolutions condemning the coup and instituting arms embargoes.
Furthermore, Moscow also provides army training and university scholarships to thousands of Burmese soldiers, and Russian representatives regularly attend military parades and diplomatic events in Myanmar. Such blatant show of support has further encouraged the junta to strengthen its hold on power.