The Russian-Belarusian military exercises are causing concern in NATO following the drone incident in Poland, Bloomberg reports.
Poland had previously closed its border with Belarus amid the exercises. The Polish Interior Minister has already promised to reopen it as soon as possible, but Warsaw has deployed about 40,000 troops closer to the borders, the country's Defense Ministry reported earlier.
Russia-Belarus joint strategic exercises "Zapad 2025" (West 2025) started on Friday. Russian Defence Ministry had previously stated that the exercises are planned and are not directed against any countries. It is a test of the forces' ability to repel potential aggression against the [Russia-Belarus] Union State.
It said contingents from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and other partners, including India, China, and Pakistan, have been invited to the drills to practice joint actions, adding that the exercises will be held at training grounds in Belarus and Russia, and in the waters of the Baltic and Barents seas.