Russia’s Vostok Exercises Were Both Serious Planning and a Show

From 11 to 17 September 2018, the Russian armed forces conducted the active phase of the Vostok-2018 strategic military exercise. Throughout the week, Russia’s far east hosted a coordinated ballet of troops rehearsing across multiple strategic directions. In a twist, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army participated for the first time.

Russia’s massive drills were two things at once: a military drill where troops tested their combat preparedness, and a diplomatic exercise highlighting relations with China and Mongola and aimed at the West.

Vostok 2018 followed a similar exercise in 2017 called Zapad-2017.

• Primary Source

The Diplomat, 17.09.18: Vostok 2018: Russia and China’s Diverging Common Interests https://thediplomat.com/2018/09/vostok-2018-russia-and-chinas-diverging-common-interests/

Wikipedia: Vostok 2018 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vostok_2018

Deutsche Welle: Tag: Vostok 2018 https://www.dw.com/search/en?searchNavigationId=9097&languageCode=en&origin=gN&item=vostok+2018

Sputnik International: Tag: Vostok 2018 https://sputniknews.com/tags/event_Vostok-2018/

ECFR: Commentary, 25.09.18: Russian manoeuvres with Chinese characteristics https://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_russian_manoeuvres_with_chinese_characteristics

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