First ASEAN Joint Exercise, Russia Will Bring Anti-Submarine Destroyer Admiral Panteleyev To Indonesia

Russian destroyer RFS Admiral Panteleyev (BPK 548). (Wikimedia Commons/Petty Officer 2nd Class Sean Furey)

JAKARTA - If nothing goes wrong, Russia will hold a joint naval exercise with Southeast Asian (ASEAN) countries in early December.

Russia's Permanent Representative to ASEAN, Alexander Ivanov, said the joint naval exercise for the first time would be held in Indonesia's territorial waters.

"Russia-ASEAN naval exercises will take place in North Sumatra in Indonesia's territorial waters on December 1-3", he told TASS as quoted on November 23.

"The large anti-submarine warship Admiral Panteleyev will represent Russia in the exercises", Ivanov continued.

The warships in question are Udaloy Class destroyers with RFS Admiral Panteleyev (BPK 548) anti-submarine capabilities.

As the envoy explained, the maneuver aims to practice "interoperability of the Russian Navy and the navies of ASEAN member states, to ensure safe commercial activities and maritime shipping".

"The exercise will take place in two stages: virtual and at sea", the envoy added. Indonesian Defense Minister, Prabowo Subianto, is expected to mark the opening of the exercise.

To note, Russia and ASEAN have just finished holding their fourth summit via video conference on 28 October. The summit coincided with the 30th anniversary of relations between Russia and the association which was celebrated this year.

The Summit adopted several documents aimed at further developing strategic partnerships. One of them, the leaders approved the decision to hold joint naval exercises of ASEAN countries with Russia.