Putin hosts naval parade, introduces 30 new vessels to fleet
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The Russian President recollects how the Russian fleet won numerous naval battles, since Peter the Great's reign in the early 18th century.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin, accompanied by Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, attends a parade marking Navy Day in St. Petersburg. (Sputnik)
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated as he attended the annual Navy Day parade in St. Petersburg that Russia is continuing to increase its naval force, with 30 new vessels set to enter service this year alone.
Every year on the final Sunday in July, Russia observes Navy Day. According to the Defense Ministry, this year's show in St. Petersburg included 33 warships and boats, four submarines, and eight sailing vessels. A total of 3,000 soldiers participated in the procession, it continued.
Read: Pentagon worried about Russian-Chinese military drills
The sailors were greeted by Putin from a cutter before he gave a speech after setting foot on land.
"For centuries, our fleet has been and remains the invincible guardian of the borders of our Fatherland, its pride and glory," he said.
The President recollected how the Russian fleet had won numerous naval battles, since Peter the Great's reign in the early 18th century, and had completed numerous travels around the world while documenting numerous scientific, geographical, and technological discoveries.
He noted that this year is the 320th anniversary of Russia's Baltic Fleet, the 290th anniversary of its Northern Fleet, and the 240th anniversary of its Black Sea Fleet.
Putin emphasized that Russia has been bolstering its naval force in recent years, stating that "this year alone, 30 ships of various classes have joined its ranks."
"Among those that have taken up combat duty is the Mercury missile corvette. It’s named after the immortal feat of the crew of the legendary brig. Almost two centuries ago, it single-handedly defeated two battleships," he said.
The President was alluding to matters that took place in 1829 during the Russian-Turkish war. Then, in the Black Sea, Captain-Lieutenant Aleksandr Kazarsky's brig Mercury came upon two Turkish battleships. According to historical records, the enemy had a cannon advantage of 184 to 20, but the much smaller Russian vessel was able to inflict so much damage on the battleships that they were compelled to retire.
After the Russia-Africa Summit, a naval parade was held in St. Petersburg, and numerous African officials stayed in the city to attend the event.
Aside from Novorossiysk on the Black Sea and Tartus, Syria's Mediterranean Sea port, naval parades were also held on Sunday at the major bases of the Baltic, Northern, Pacific, and Caspian Flotilla.
China, Russia to launch third naval patrol amid Australia drills
Russia and China will launch their third joint naval patrol just after completing the Northern/Interaction-2023 joint exercises in the Sea of Japan, the Global Times reported on Wednesday, citing a press release of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense.
Warships and vessels of both armies will be sailing into West and North Pacific waters, in accordance with an annual cooperation schedule between their militaries.
The Global Times said the exercise could reach the Bering Sea, as the Chinese People's Liberation Amry's Navy seeks to showcase its far sea capabilities, coinciding with the largest ever joint military drill held by 13 countries, including the US, Australia, the UK Canada, and Japan in Australian waters.
The US Navy Secretary, Carlos Del Toro, commented on the large-scale drills saying, "The most important message that China can take from this exercise and anything that our allies and partners do together is that we are extremely tied by the core values that exist among our many nations together."
Del Toro's remarks were followed by a commissioning ceremony of the USS Canberra held at Garden Island in the presence of US and Australian Navy chiefs. This marked the first-ever US naval warship to join active service at a foreign port, which is evidence of the increased military cooperation between countries of the AUKUS pact in the face of China.
