The US Navy has dropped plans to participate in naval exercises with Russia later this month because of Moscow's military campaign in Georgia, the Pentagon confirmed Wednesday.
"The Pentagon felt it inappropriate given the current situation," Lieutenant Colonel Elizabeth Hubner, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said.
The US Navy was to join the Russian-hosted exercise near Vladivostok in the Sea of Japan later in August, she said.
The British and French also participate in the annual exercises that take place under the NATO-Russian cooperation. This year's mission was to focus on improving interoperability between the four fleets, Hubner said.