Russia has accepted an invitation to participate in this summer's Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) naval exercises, Adm. Robert Willard, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, stated at the 7th annual Hawaii-U.S. Military Partnership Conference Jan. 3.
"Whether that will continue to hold, given the political dynamic associated with the Russian military and ours and our various administrations will remain to be seen," Willard said, "but they showed up at the mid-planning conference (in November) with an expectation to actually participate this year. That is great progress."
RIMPAC is a biennial, multinational exercise held in Hawaiian waters. Russia was invited to observe the 2004 and 2006 RIMPAC exercises but did not send observers.
"Russia is a member of the Western Pacific Naval Symposium, and Russian participation in RIMPAC would further U.S. Maritime Strategy objectives of developing collaborative partnerships and strengthening collective security," Pacific Fleet spokesman Mark Matsunaga said.
"Working together with partners in the Pacific builds confidence and trust to allow the partners to focus on common threats, combat transnational crime, strengthen maritime security and achieve mutual interests," Matsunaga said.
China has not been invited to participate or observe RIMPAC 08. The National Defense Authorization Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-65) precludes direct military-to-military contacts with China, except for search-and-rescue and humanitarian assistance operations.
A small Chinese contingent did observe RIMPAC in 1998, before that law was passed.
In 2006, a waiver to the restrictions allowed a Chinese team to observe a portion of the Valiant Shield exercise off Guam. However, there are no plans to invite China as a participant or observer for RIMPAC 2008.
