JAKARTA, 02 December 2021, (TON): The first joint naval drill between Russia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations began in Indonesian waters, marking a new development in a region facing territorial disputes with China and US attempts to counter Beijing’s influence.

The three-day ARNEX exercise is held partly virtually at the Belawan base of the Indonesian Navy, and partly at sea off North Sumatra province.

Officials said “it aims to increase both the interoperability of ASEAN and Russian forces and the security of maritime economic activities and civil navigation in the region.”

Indonesian Navy First Fleet Command Chief Rear Adm. Arsyad Abdullah said in a statement “this exercise fosters a friendly relationship between Indonesian navy, ASEAN member state navies and the Russian navy and will increase the navies’ personnel professionalism.”

Abdullah was accompanied by Russia’s ambassador to ASEAN, Alexander Ivanov, and the Russian ambassador to Indonesia, Lyudmila Vorobyeva.

Lvanov said “this exercise is about peace, stability and prosperity in the region.”

The drill features warships from seven of the 10 ASEAN member states, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam and Brunei and the Russian destroyer Admiral Panteleyev.

The Philippines, Cambodia, and Laos the only landlocked nation in Southeast Asia  are taking part in the drill online as observers.