Vostok 2022 and India’s Participation

Table of Contents

The Exercise Vostok 2022

About: Vostok 2022 is a multilateral strategic and command Exercise that has been conducted by Russia recently. VOSTOK (meaning ‘East’) is part of a system of strategic exercises that the Russian Armed Forces have started since 2009.
Components: Vostok 2022 is a seven-day exercise comprises land, air and sea components.
Land exercises are being held at Russian military training facilities in Siberia and the Far Eastern Federal District.
Maritime exercises are being held in the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan, near the disputed South Kuril Islands, claimed by both Russia and Japan.
Participation: Vostok 2022 will see the participation from several ex-Soviet nations, China, India, Laos, Mongolia, Nicaragua and Syria.
Significance: Vostok 2022 will be the first such multilateral exercise to be held since the Russian war in Ukraine began in February 2022.
Concerns: Japan has issued a demarche calling on Russia to move the location of its maritime exercises.

Land component: The Indian Army contingent comprising of troops from 7/8 Gorkha Rifles is participating in the land exercises and will undertake joint manoeuvres to include joint field training exercises, combat discussions, and firepower exercises.
Maritime component: India has decided not to be part of the naval drills of the Ex Vostok 2022 which is going to take place near the disputed South Kuril Islands.

Indo-Russia angle: India’s participation in the Vostok 2022 expresses its continuing relationship with Russia despite the Ukraine war.
India has decided not to join the Western sanctions regime, or to curb oil imports and other economic engagement with Russia.
Indo-Japan angle: By staying away from the maritime exercises of Vostok 2022, India has shown both its sensitivity to Japan’s concerns on maintaining the status quo over the disputed islands, as well as stressing the importance of territorial sovereignty and integrity for India.
A symbol of Non-Alignment: With its partial participation, India has showcased a balanced and non-aligned approach in the current crisis, given India has mostly abstained from votes at the UN seeking to criticize Russia.
Apart from this exercise, India has also taken part in routine Indo-Pacific exercises with its Western partners including the QUAD, as well as in bilateral exercises, like the India-US “Yudh Abhyas” in October 2022.
Thus, India wants to remain comfortable in both its engagement with the US-EU coalition and its rival groupings led by Russia-China.
Indo-China angle: India is willing to engage with China on several fronts, even as military talks with China at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) remain stuck.
However, India has asserted that it cannot be “business as usual” relations with China until the latest logjam over Chinese troops’ transgression in Ladakh since April 2020 is resolved.