US Edition
US military officers pay surprise visit to Belarus to observe war games with Russia: Reuters
- On Monday, September 15, 2025, two U.S. military officers attended joint Russian-Belarusian war games near Barysaw, Belarus, during the Zapad-2025 exercise.
- The Zapad-2025 drills began on the preceding Friday amid heightened NATO tensions following recent Russian drone incursions into Poland’s airspace.
- The exercises featured Russian and Belarusian forces including aircraft, tanks, artillery, and helicopter gunships simulating combat against Western forces, with Belarusian Defense Minister Khrenin inviting U.S. observers to inspect operations.
- Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated the drills are not aimed at any third country but focus on military cooperation between Russia and Belarus as strategic allies.
- The U.S. observation of the drills and recent diplomatic gestures, including prisoner releases and sanctions relief on Belarusian airline Belavia, indicate an apparent thaw in U.S.-Belarus relations amid ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
59 Articles
59 Articles
Russia, Belarus war games stir EU unease
War games involving Russian and Belarusian troops on Monday spurred unease in Europe, which is already on edge after Russian drones entered Poland and Romania last week. The games, which marked Moscow and Minsk’s first such joint exercises since 2021 — shortly before Russia used Belarus as a launchpad for its invasion of Ukraine — served as a message to Europe, the BBC’s Russia editor wrote: “See and consider the firepower on your doorstep; conf…
The days before the Great Manoeuvre began were marked by provocations. A Russian helicopter injured Estonian airspace, 19 drones invaded Poland, some of which were shot down. NATO's alarm bells shrill. However, the Russian-Belarussian military exercise "Sapad 2025" itself has so far been without incidents – even under the eyes of US military observers who received an official invitation. At least two U.S. military operatives followed the Great M…
U.S. military representatives have surprisingly visited the Russian-Belarussian military maneuver "Sapad-2025" and the neighbouring countries of Poland, Lithuania and Latvia had tightened their security arrangements in the course of the maneuver.
The armed forces of Russia and Belarus are currently conducting a joint military maneuver. Two U.S. representatives are attending the exercise as guests. The Belarusian Defense Minister will personally welcome the two emissaries of Washington.
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