YALTA. May 5 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia's naval vessels will join India's Western and Eastern Fleets for joint exercises in the Indian Ocean, President Vladimir Putin announced at a meeting with Vladimir Masorin, the commander of Russia's Black Sea Fleet.
Putin emphasized that "this will be the first time such exercises are staged."
He also noted that Russian ships "have not traveled through the Suez Canal in the last 15 years."
Putin asked the commander to brief him on preparations for the upcoming drills in the Indian Ocean.
Putin noted that the naval team that is already in the Indian Ocean includes ships from the Black Sea and Pacific Fleets, while the Black Sea Fleet acts as its backbone.
Masorin reported that Russian ships have already called at the port of Aden (Yemen) for more fuel and food supplies.
The commander stressed that a group of friendly ships had at one time been in the Indian Ocean and, in preparation for the upcoming exercise, "the experience gained by veterans familiar with the region has been applied."
The commander expressed confidence that "all tasks for the upcoming exercise will be fulfilled. Everything is ready," he said.
Masorin reported that the ships are fully prepared for the exercise "for over two and a half months, under rather difficult financial conditions." Weapons enterprises incurred debts during the preparations. Nevertheless, he noted that the preparation of the crews and ships "had received top marks after going through the General Staff's rigorous testing."