Russia and China conduct naval drills as Trump moves submarines

Russian and Chinese naval officers attend a ceremony in Vladivostok, Russia, 31 July, 2025
Reuters

Russian and Chinese naval forces are holding joint artillery and anti-submarine drills in the Sea of Japan as part of the scheduled 'Maritime Interaction-2025' exercises, the Russian Pacific Fleet reported Sunday.

The joint maneuvers include a large Russian anti-submarine ship, two Chinese destroyers, diesel-electric submarines from both sides, and a Chinese submarine rescue vessel.

These exercises began prior to U.S. President Donald Trump's recent decision to position two nuclear submarines in response to 'highly provocative' remarks from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

Despite the timing, Russian officials emphasized that the drills were planned in advance and are not a direct response to U.S. actions.

The drills, running until Tuesday, aim to strengthen coordination between Russian and Chinese forces through live artillery firing, air defense simulations, anti-submarine training, and search-and-rescue operations at sea.

President Trump's public disclosure about the nuclear submarine deployments is highly unusual and comes amid frustration over the ongoing war in Ukraine and stalled diplomatic progress.

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