Putin Warns U.S. as Russia and China Hold Naval Drills

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the United States against trying to outgun Moscow in Asia as Russian and Chinese warships held joint drills as part of the biggest Russian naval exercises since the Soviet era.

Putin said the wider "Ocean-2024" strategic exercise would be conducted from the Mediterranean to the Pacific and would test units' combat-readiness and the use of high-precision weapons, including promising new types.

It would also incorporate lessons learned from Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine.

"We pay special attention to strengthening military cooperation with friendly states," he told military officials in televised remarks at the launch of the maneuvers.

Putin said Russia should be ready for any developments and would keep strengthening its naval forces, including their nuclear component, in the face of what he described as an arms race driven by Washington.

The United States says its alliances in the Pacific, such as the AUKUS partnership with Britain and Australia, are aimed at deepening military cooperation to promote regional stability. AUKUS last year announced a joint plan that would provide Australia with nuclear-powered attack submarines from the early 2030s to counter China's ambitions in the Indo-Pacific.

Navy commander Alexander Moiseyev reported to Putin that four Chinese vessels and 15 planes were exercising with Russian forces.

The drills with China are part of much larger Russian maneuvers that will run until Sept. 16 in the Pacific and Arctic Oceans and the Mediterranean, Baltic and Caspian seas.

Russia's armed forces have been heavily stretched on land and sea for the past two and a half years by its war in Ukraine.

Russia has nevertheless continued to stage large-scale military exercises - including thousands of miles away in its far east - in order to project power and build defense ties with partners, especially China.