MOSCOW, Aug. 10 (UPI) — Russia launched the first annual International Military Games last week to highlight its military prowess in a series of “war games” competitions. The event is supposed to last two weeks.
More than 2,000 troops from 16 nations are expected as part of the series of war games. Participants include China, India, Belarus, Egypt, Pakistan, Venezuela and Serbia. None of the participants are NATO members.
President Vladimir Putin has touted a 22-trillion ruble — or $343 billion — program to modernize Russia’s military, seen as a guarantor of security from NATO’s perceived agression, The Washington Post reported.
The Tank Biathalon was the first contest in which tanks rushed around a track while shooting at targets, The Express reported. Russia hopes to boost its military ties with several nations at the event.
“It is gratifying to say that people bearing arms and riding awe-inspiring military hardware are meeting here, on the hospitable Russian soil, as friends, that the end of their competitions they will shake hands with a smile and joy in their rivals’ success,” said Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu at the welcoming ceremony.
The Kremlin has held big training drills in recent months amid rising tensions with the West over the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
“We have a deep belief that our participation in the Army Games will improve our bilateral military cooperation with Russia,” said Colonel Walid Hegazy Mohamed, an Egyptian Embassy defense attache.
Russia is opening a patriotic theme park in 2016. At the 70 year anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in May, Russia unveiled a new battle tank with a remote-controlled turret that is considered one of the most advanced in the world.
Last Sunday, a Russian pilot was killed when a Mi-28 helicopter crash during an aviadarts competition.
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