China, Russia, Iran and a handful of other nations will hold massive joint military drills later this month in what Beijing dubs a “comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation in a new era.”
The Kavkaz-2020 exercises, to be held in the Astrakhan region of Russia beginning on Sept. 21, also will include troops from Armenia, Belarus, Iran, Myanmar and Pakistan.
In a statement Thursday, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense said the exercise is not specifically targeted “at any third party” — a nod to recent military tensions with the U.S.
But Beijing did make clear that the exercises represent the deepening of its ties with Moscow.
Russia, China, Iran to hold massive joint military exercise
![](https://mr.cdn.ignitecdn.com/client_assets/teapartyfwd/media/picture/5f5a/549d/24fe/d137/7eae/422d/1199x453_6647207165_0577474588_k.jpg?1599755465)
Military marching by Michael Day is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Military marching by Michael Day is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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