Why in News:

• An Indian Army contingent comprising troops from 7/8 Gorkha Rifles is participating in the multilateral strategic and command exercise ‘Vostok-2022’

About

• Russia has stated that Vostok-2022 will be conducted in two phases. Participating contingents include observers from the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and other partner states including Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Laos, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Syria and Tajikistan

Relevance

• The exercise comes as the standoff between India and China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh continues for over two years now. While disengagement has been undertaken in some areas, friction areas remain in addition to the overall de-escalation.

Reference:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/vostok-2022-commences-in-russia-with-india-china-participating/article65836530.ece