Russian Pacific Fleet ships to conclude Myanmar port call

Three ships of the Russian Pacific Fleet have been in Myanmar since November 2 and are scheduled to depart again today. The purpose of the port call was to conduct the first Russian-Myanmar naval exercise, which consisted of joint naval maneuvers.

The visit was headed by the Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov. Yevmenov met with Myanmar’s junta leadership and visited the country’s navy command. Apart from the exercise, both sides inspected each other’s warships and attended a series of cultural and sports events.

Despite Russia’s far-reaching isolation since its invasion of Ukraine, relations with Myanmar have deepened since then. Myanmar is also facing international isolation since taking power from the country’s democratically elected government in a coup in February 2021. Russia has supplied Myanmar with weapons and supported it diplomatically by blocking any attempts at holding the junta accountable at the United Nations.

In return, Myanmar also supports Russia. Myanmar military junta leader Min Aung Hlaing met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and praised his leadership, while also calling Russia’s war in Ukraine “justified”. Both sides already deepened economic cooperation by signing several deals and this week’s Russian port call will likely further deepen their diplomatic and security cooperation.