Military drills with India not against China, says Russia

Russia does not carry out military exercises or other cooperative events that may lead to worsening relations of a country we maintain multilateral ties with -Russian Foreign Ministry

Russia has said that the upcoming Russia-India military drills do not target China and expressed confidence that New Delhi and Beijing can resolve their border tensions.

“Russia does not carry out military exercises or other cooperative events that may lead to worsening relations of a country we maintain multilateral ties with,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.

Zakharova said Russia always provides all interested parties with comprehensive information “in order to stop any speculation on such issues as soon as possible”, Xinhua news agency reported.

As for the border standoff between India and China, she said: “We express absolute confidence that New Delhi and Beijing, as responsible members of the international community, will be able to find mutually acceptable ways to quickly resolve the tensions.”

Meanwhhile, Russia's nuclear submarine Severodvinsk on Friday successfully hit a target with a cruise missile, the Navy said.

It has a submerged displacement of 13,800 tonnes and a length of 390 feet. It can travel up to 31 knots (65 km/h) and dive to 600 meters.