GETTY China Russia war games: Military drills to kick off in the Baltic Sea this week

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Elite forces from both nations will descend on European borders as they conduct war games with their most fierce machinery. The Joint Sea 2017 naval drills were confirmed by the Russian Defense Ministry ahead of the start of the Baltic phase of the exercise, on Friday. A dozen warships, helicopters and other military aircraft will be involved in the display of military prowess.

GETTY China's navy with Type 052D guided missile destroyer Changsha

The main goals of the exercises are to increase the efficiency in cooperation between the two fleets in countering security threats at sea, to train compatibility of the crews of Russian and Chinese warships Russian military

The Russian ministry said: “The main goals of the exercises are to increase the efficiency in cooperation between the two fleets in countering security threats at sea, to train compatibility of the crews of Russian and Chinese warships, to strengthen friendship and cooperation between the Russian Navy and the Naval Forces of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.” Baltiysk in Russia's Kaliningrad region will play host to the Chinese naval forces on July 21 for an official welcoming ceremony. Then, the drills which have taken place between the two nations since 2012, will kick off between July 24 and 27.

Dramatic images shows Russian navy launching six missile strikes at ISIS Fri, June 23, 2017 Russian naval vessels launched missile strikes on Islamic State targets in Syria's Hama province, destroying command posts and weapon and ammunition depots Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 7 A still image taken from a video footage shows a missile being fired from a Russian warship to hit Islamic State targets in Syria's Hama province, from the Mediterranean sea

GETTY China's naval fleet on the way to Russia after firing exercises in Mediterranean

Early reports the Chinese have deployed the Changsha, the second advanced Type 052D guided missile destroyer, will be closely tested as the troops set sail. The missile frigate Yuncheng and the Luoma Lake supply ship are also tipped for deployment to Russia. Live-fire drills took place in the Mediterranean, last week, as the Chinese fleet made its way to the Baltic. Following the exercises the Chinese Navy will join Russian ships in the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk in September where the second phase of the Russian-Chinese exercises will begin. Finland has spoken out against coming exercises as Russia prepares for the Zapad 2017 military exercise, the largest since the end of the cold war.

GETTY Russian navy prepares to meet with China for war games amid nuclear and terror threats