US cancels joint naval exercise with Russia: Official

The United States has cancelled a joint naval exercise with Russia in response to the conflict in Georgia, a senior US defense official said.

The United States has cancelled a joint naval exercise with Russia in response to the conflict in Georgia, a senior US defense official said.

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The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, on Tuesday said plans for the August 15-23 FRUKUS naval exercise in the Sea of Japan "have been scrapped."

"In the wake of this conflict, there is no way that we can proceed with this joint exercise at this time," the official said.

The exercise was to involve warships from Russia, France, Britain and the United States in the Sea of Japan as well as an onshore component in the Russian port of Vladivostok.

FRUKUS was the latest in a series of naval exercises that have been held with the Russians since 1988.