Russia, Myanmar step up defence relations

Russia and Myanmar step up defence relations, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said. At the meeting with Myanmar Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing on Monday, Shoigu said, “The meeting proved the big potential of Russian-Myanmar cooperation. I can note with pleasure that military relations between the two countries have stepped up.” This is the second meeting between the defence ministers of both countries. Earlier, Shoigu made an official visit to Myanmar and held talks with the Myanmar commander-in-chief. The press service said Myanmar showed interest in military-technical cooperation with Russia, particularly in Russian weaponry and training specialists in military schools. At present, Myanmar’s Armed Forces successfully use the 30 MiG-29 and the 30Mi-17 aircraft, as well as the 11 Mi-24 jets, the Russian Defence Ministry said. Myanmar has Russia’s Pechora air defence systems in its service. At least 150 officers and students from Myanmar study at Russian military schools. At the end of the year ships of Russia’s Navy will visit Myanmar.