MINSK, 2 November (BelTA) - Belarus-Russia operational exercise Union Shield 2023 will be the main event in the program of joint military drills next year, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said at a joint board meeting of the defense ministries of the two countries, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Defense Ministry.
"Today's meeting is another joint step in strengthening the military security of our states. This is especially important in this difficult period not only for Belarus, Russia and the Union State, but also for international peace and security as a whole. Together we need to look for measures to counter the ongoing unprecedented pressure and hybrid warfare against Belarus and Russia. The North Atlantic Alliance has been engaged in unjustified militarization of the entire eastern flank along the borders of the Union State and has been building up military infrastructure. In the adjacent territories, NATO has increased the number of operational and combat training activities several times. Politicians do not stop with bellicose rhetoric," Viktor Khrenin said.
The defense minister stressed that, despite what is happening, Belarus and Russia have achieved great results in military cooperation this year. To improve the joint military systems, the military authorities of Belarus and Russia are holding joint events, exchanging best practices, improving the legal framework, and conducting joint training. Preparations have begun for the joint operational exercise Union Shield 2023.
"The main purpose of today's meeting is to clarify the procedure for further work on the joint military potential in order to counter military challenges and threats directed against the Union State. We are set to hear out reports on the main efforts against the attempts to falsify history, and also on the status of the Unified Regional Air Defense System. We will discuss the basics of the joint operational exercise of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus Union Shield 2023, which will be the main event in the program of joint military drills next year,” Viktor Khrenin said.
Constructive discussion of the issues will contribute to the development and deepening of military cooperation, coordination of positions and prospects of joint military activities for the benefit of military security of the Union State, the defense minister is convinced.
Belarusian Defense Minister Lieutenant General Viktor Khrenin is chairing this year's joint board meeting of the Belarusian and Russian defense ministries via video conference. Attending the event are Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Belarus Boris Gryzlov, representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union State of Belarus and Russia, the office of the Union State Standing Committee in Minsk, Russian attache's office, and experts from the defense ministry of Belarus.
The event is set to organize practical work to strengthen the joint military potential to counter challenges and threats of a military nature that are directed against the Union State. The joint board meeting is set to take stock of the progress made by the defense agencies over the past period, the status of measures to ensure military security of the Union State. The focus will be on the improvement of the Unified Regional Air Defense System of Belarus and Russia, and also the improvement of joint military systems.
