The Pentagon has confirmed that US military officials observed joint war games between Russia and Belarus for the first time since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Reuters reported.
US personnel attended the “Zapad 2025” drills alongside observers from other countries.
A US defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Washington’s last observation of the exercises was in 2021.
The event covers 41 training grounds, involving 100,000 service members, and including about 10,000 weapons and military systems deployed in realistic combat scenarios.
The drills are based on lessons from Russia’s ongoing military operations, with the stated goal of practicing responses to potential aggression against the Union State, a term used for the political and military alliance between the Kremlin and Minsk.
Belarus, a close Russian ally, served as a staging ground for Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
NATO Eastern Flank Tensions
The presence of US officers comes amid rising tensions along Europe’s borders.
Last week, Romania reported that a Russian drone crossed into its airspace during an attack on Ukraine, prompting Bucharest to scramble fighter jets.
The incident follows similar recent violations. Earlier last week, Poland shot down Russian drones that had entered its airspace.
Despite repeated drone incursions into NATO territory over the past three and a half years of war between Russia and Ukraine, no member had previously attempted to engage them.
Amid the episode, Polish officials warned that Moscow and Europe are moving closer to an “open conflict,” calling on NATO allies to strengthen defenses along the alliance’s eastern flank.
Earlier this year, a Russian Gerbera drone breached Lithuanian airspace and was likely launched from Belarusian territory, according to Lithuania’s authorities.
