Russia launches joint navy drills with China

Russian President Vladimir Putin accuses the US of provoking an arms race and says Russia must be 'prepared for any development'.

Transcript

00:00Russia launched joint Navy drills with China that was announced by Russian President Vladimir

00:07Putin.

00:10He states the drills are an attempt to check Russia's combat readiness and to strengthen

00:15military cooperation with its allies.

00:18The Russian leader blames the United States for disrupting the balance of power in the

00:23Asia-Pacific region.

00:25In fact, the United States is provoking the arms race, not considering the safety of its

00:31European and Asian allies.

00:34It is creating preconditions for a dangerous crisis situation in Europe and the Asia-Pacific

00:40region.

00:41I want to emphasize that Russia should be ready for any development of the situation.

00:47The naval exercises are the largest of their kind in three decades and will span the Pacific

00:52and Arctic Oceans, the Mediterranean, Caspian and Baltic Seas.

00:59The drills involve over 90,000 troops, more than 400 vessels at sea and 120 aircrafts

01:07and helicopters.