Algeria will be holding anti-terrorist drills with Russia
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Desert Shield will be taking place in Algeria for the first time.
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Algerian soldiers march during a military parade at the Cherchell “Houari Boumediene” in Algiers, July 1, 2018. (AP).
Joint Russian-Algerian anti-terrorist exercises - Desert Shield 2022 - will be taking place in Algeria for the first time, according to the Southern Military district's press service on Tuesday.
"The joint Russian-Algerian Desert Shield 2022 anti-terrorist drills will take place in Algeria for the first time. The second final planning conference on the preparation for the joint Russian-Algerian exercise was held in the Bechar Province of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria," the statement wrote.
The exercise will be held this November at the Hammaguir testing ground in Algeria, and will involve around 80 servicemen from the motor rifle units stationed in the North Caucasus, and about 80 other Algerian servicemen.
During the exercise, Russian and Algerian counterparts will be practicing how to search, detect and eliminate terrorist groups in the desert setting.
The first Russian-Algerian drills took place in North Ossetia in October 2021, where 200 servicemen participated in addition to 40 units of combat and special equipment involved.
The armed forces of Egypt, Kazakhstan and Pakistan will also be participating in the Southern Military District's joint exercises in 2022.
Read next: Tebboune: Algeria center for inter-Palestinian unity, Arab mediation
In May, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that there will be a signing of a new agreement confirming a new "quality" of relations between Moscow and Algiers.
Lavrov said: "We, Algeria, and the other members of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum are adhering to the agreements we have reached on gas supplies to the world market. And I am sure that it will continue to be so.
"Many Russian companies are interested in creating and implementing joint projects together with Algerian partners in such areas as energy, mineral resources, geological exploration, and pharmaceuticals."
The Russian minister indicated that given "the rapidly developing friendly ties" between Russia and Algeria, the two countries plan to sign "a new inter-state strategic document, which will reflect the new quality of our relations."
