Russia, Myanmar Begin First Maritime Military Exercises

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Nov 07, 2023

Image copyright: Wikimedia Commonsstory last updated Nov 07, 2023

The Facts

Myanmar's junta leader, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, has met with Russian naval chief Adm. Nikolai Evmenov ahead of the first-ever Myanmar-Russia joint maritime exercises off the Andaman coast, as both countries have drawn closer amid diplomatic isolation from the West.
The state-run newspaper Global New Light of Myanmar reported that the drills focusing on defending against threats from air, land, and sea will be held about 157 km (85 nautical miles) west of Myeik in Myanmar’s far south from Tuesday to Thursday.

The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

Russia's close relationship with the brutal Myanmar junta has been growing for years now, and its threat to Southeast Asia has grown along with it. While the West must always be prepared to combat confrontational moves by Russia and China, it should also work to build diplomatic relations with the surrounding nations — many of whom share similar concerns about the rise of Moscow and Beijing in their region.

Reuters

Establishment-critical narrative

Russia is simply working with members of the Asia-Pacific region whom the US, Australia, and Japan have left out to dry. Some member states of ASEAN, including Myanmar, have now been negatively impacted by the West's hegemonic pursuits in the region. Russia, however, believes in mutually beneficial cooperation between all states, which is why the US and its friends are stoking confrontation with those who don't bow to their demands.