All news

US boosts combat training intensity in Asia-Pacific, says Russian top brass

These measures are acquiring a clearly anti-Russian and anti-Chinese nature, Admiral Igor Kostyukov noted

MOSCOW, June 23. /TASS/. The United States is increasing the intensity of its armed forces’ operational and combat training in the Asia-Pacific region, and it is acquiring a clearly anti-Russian and anti-Chinese nature, Chief of the Russian General Staff’s Main Department Admiral Igor Kostyukov said at the Moscow conference on international security on Wednesday.

"The intensity of the US Armed Forces’ operational and combat training in the region is growing to 85 exercises annually," Kostyukov said.

The Pentagon is trying to increase the amount of engaged forces and capabilities, expand the group of countries and unite them around a single concept of operations against "the opponents highly developed technologically," he stressed.

"These measures are acquiring a clearly anti-Russian and anti-Chinese nature," he pointed out.

US excercises in the Asia-Pacific region

As an example, the Russian defense official cited the exercise Northern Edge that had taken place in Alaska in May.

"The American troops practiced the scenario of a military operation against an Arctic state (which implied Russia). They dealt with the specific tasks of delivering massive missile and air strikes, breaking through the access restriction (prohibition) area and conducting offensive operations with the landing of a marine and airborne assault force," the admiral explained.

Also, the US exercises Valiant Shield and RIMPAC implied settling a crisis situation that emerged as a result of territorial disputes, the Russian defense official said. "China was viewed as an aggressor," he added.

Last year, a special anti-China program was developed to finance the US Army’s provision with advanced military hardware and its combat training activity in the Asia-Pacific region, the admiral said.

"In 2021, $2.2 billion has been earmarked, with $5.1 billion to be allocated in 2022 and another $23 billion in the subsequent period until 2027," Kostyukov said.