Russia and China have staged mock combat drills in the Sea of Japan on Sunday in a show of strengthening ties between the countries. Although the war games were planned in advance, they come just one day after Donald Trump moved two US nuclear submarines closer to Russia following comments from former Russian president,

Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council and Chairman of the United Russia political party, delivers a speech during the party's congress in Moscow, Russia, December 17, 2023. Sputnik/Yekaterina Shtukina/Pool via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY.

Normally, when the US acts against Russia, Vladimir Putin is quick to respond in kind: sanction for sanction, travel ban for travel ban, expulsion for expulsion.