Photo courtesy of the Belarusian Defense Ministry's news agency Vayar
MINSK, 28 May (BelTA) – Belarus has taken a decision to reduce the scale of the Zapad 2025 exercise and move its main maneuvers inland, away from the western borders, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said at a meeting of the CSTO Defense Ministers Council in Bishkek, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Defense Ministry.
The minister stressed that the Zapad 2025 exercise is not aimed against anyone, while the transfer of its main maneuvers deep into the territory of Belarus from the western borders indicates the readiness for dialogue and reduction of tension in the region. In terms of intensity and scale, the Zapad exercise has always been incomparable to the operational and combat training activities conducted in Europe by NATO member states. However, the very fact of its conduct has traditionally been causing stereotype speculations from representatives of the military and political leadership of certain European states, the minister said.
“Despite the fact that no steps have been taken to return to the implementation of a number of key arms control agreements with respect to the Republic of Belarus, we have decided to reduce the scale of the Zapad 2025 exercise. In doing so, we are once again confirming not only in word but also in practice our readiness for dialogue, compromise and easing of tensions. We are doing this, frankly speaking, without hoping for a constructive response. We are doing it to demonstrate to our allies and partners around the world the truly peace-loving position of the Republic of Belarus,” said Viktor Khrenin.
On the sidelines of the CSTO Defense Ministers Council meeting, the Belarusian defense minister held a bilateral meeting with Kyrgyzstan’s Defense Minister Ruslan Mukambetov.
The ministers aligned positions on the main areas of bilateral cooperation, discussed possible areas of further interaction, and signed an agreement between the Defense Ministries of Belarus and Kyrgyzstan on cooperation in health resort treatment and recuperation of servicemen and their families.
Addressing his colleague, Viktor Khrenin emphasized that the Belarus-Kyrgyzstan relations had reached the level of a long-term mutually beneficial partnership: “Every year servicemen of our armed forces take part in joint CSTO exercises. This year, three of them – Interaction 2025, Search 2025 and Echelon 2025 - will be held in Belarus. We will be glad to see servicemen of Kyrgyzstan on the Belarusian land as participants in these events.”
The Defense Ministry of Kyrgyzstan aims to develop cooperation with Belarus in all areas of mutual interest, Ruslan Mukambetov said in return.
President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan met with the heads of delegations of the CSTO countries. Sadyr Japarov stressed the importance of cooperation within the organization and expressed readiness to strengthen collective security, develop mutual assistance and jointly confront current threats.
“Today it is extremely important to unite efforts on the external contour, to make our common voice weighty and significant in the international arena. Standing together, we can become an initiator and a driving force behind new international legal mechanisms that will help restore the security architecture in the Euro-Atlantic region and promote the development of trust in the organization as a whole. The Republic of Belarus takes its membership in the CSTO with all responsibility and will spare no effort to make our organization even more effective,” Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said during the meeting with the president of Kyrgyzstan.
The defense ministers of the CSTO member states emphasized the need to jointly combat terrorism, extremism and cybercrime, as well as to establish closer information exchange and ensure coordination of actions.
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