Belarusian Defense Minister Viktar Chrenin announced on Wednesday that this year’s largest joint military exercise with Russia – West -20125 – will move from the western border of Belarus to the country. This decision is intended to contribute to a reduction in tension, Chrenin explained, TASR writes based on a report from the Estonian public service and television company ERR.
Chrenin said that Belarus again confirms its readiness for dialogue, compromise and “reducing tension not only with words but also with deeds.” He added that Belarus decided to demonstrate its “truly peaceful attitude to its ally and partners around the world.”
The Belarusian Minister pointed out that “in terms of intensity and scope, West Exercise has always been incomparable with operational and combat training actions organized by NATO Member States in Europe.
Have reduced the number of participants
In addition, the advisor to the Belarusian Defense Minister for International Military Cooperation Valerij Revenka stated that the number of participants of the West-20125 exercise will be reduced by almost half, which was decided in April.
Common Belarus-Russian exercise West-20125 is to be held in mid-September. Units of armies of both countries plan to practice actions “to reflect aggression against the Union State of Russia and Belarus”. Russian Defense Minister Andrej Belousov said in mid -May that more than 13,000 soldiers will participate in this year’s exercise.
Poland announced in May that, in response to West-2025, NATO is preparing the largest division maneuvers in recent years.
Estonia warns of risks
In its annual reports, the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service has repeatedly pointed out the increased security risks that the West exercises are for the Baltic.
The report published in 2023 states that the security risks to Estonia have increased due to Russia’s aggression and that extensive West-20123 exercises could further worsen the security situation in the Baltic Sea region.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Greenable in February, in an interview with The Economist, said the Russian leadership is preparing to send a large number of soldiers to Belarus, who could be used to invasion into one of NATO countries.
