MOSCOW. May 22 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia and Azerbaijan are expected to hold joint naval maneuvers in the central part of the Caspian Sea in September 2015, the Russian Defense Ministry has reported.
"These international exercises will involve around a dozen surface ships and vessels of the [Russian] Caspian Flotilla and the Navy of Azerbaijan," Russia's Southern Military District said in a press release, seen by Interfax-AVN on Friday.
The drills will include simulated joint operations to "protect elements of maritime economic activity in the Caspian Sea," it said.
The Caspian Flotilla headquarters, based in the city of Astrakhan, recently hosted the first conference to lay the groundwork for the upcoming maneuvers, the military district said.
"The parties also agreed that the naval drills would address coordination between ships of the Caspian Flotilla and the Navy of the Republic of Azerbaijan as part of efforts to maintain the security of navigation and international maritime activity in the Caspian Sea. Joint live-fire artillery exercises against sea and air targets, a simulated operation to assist a distressed vessel and other joint drills will be held as well," it said.