Russia and China are preparing to launch a grandiose naval exercise — Ocean 2024. This time, the theater of operations will be not just individual seas and oceans, but the entire “world-scale water area. The Pacific Ocean will welcome Russian and Chinese frigates, the Arctic Ocean will freeze in front of squadrons, and the Mediterranean, Caspian and Baltic Seas will whisper about the times when ships were heralds of change.
More than 400 warships, submarines and support vessels, as well as more than 120 airplanes and helicopters are taking the stage. These are not just training maneuvers — this is a production where 90,000 people are involved as actors playing on a naval stage surrounded by the elements.
The first act is the deployment of groups of forces, the script is written down to the smallest detail. The second act promises to be even more exciting: “combat operations” against a notional enemy, the defeat of strategically important facilities — all according to the laws of dramaturgy.
And China, once again proving its role as an important partner, has modestly but confidently announced its participation. The Chinese Defense Ministry does not go into details, but one thing is clear — Chinese and Russian sailors will again be side by side. For the fifth time in recent years, their ships will sail the waters together, now as part of Russia’s “Great Ocean-24” symphony.
Also looming on the horizon is Northern United-2024, another chapter in the development of maritime partnership, which will be played out in the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk. I wonder what the waters of these ancient oceans are whispering about, awaiting a new act in the great game of powers?