Rus-Belarus Airborne Forces Joint Exercise... "Collective Security Enhancement Measures"

Joint Exercises Continue from the 14th... Strong Indication of Military Intervention
NATO Troops Deployed in Lithuania Criticized... Confrontation with the West Intensifies

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Russian and Belarusian armed forces conducted joint airborne unit exercises in the western border area of Belarus, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced. This move is interpreted as a response following Russian President Vladimir Putin's promise of financial and military support to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Both countries condemned the deployment of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) troops in Lithuania, which borders Belarus, and claimed this was a joint countermeasure against it.

According to Russia's TASS news agency on the 22nd (local time), the Russian and Belarusian forces carried out joint exercises named "Slavic Brotherhood 2020," involving airborne units conducting parachute landings from moving vehicles in the western border area of Belarus. Approximately 250 soldiers from both armies participated in the exercise. The joint exercises between the two countries began on the 14th, and the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that more than 900 troops and over 100 various military equipment units would be deployed.

This follows the meeting between President Putin and President Lukashenko in Sochi, Russia, on the 14th, where Russia promised financial and military support to Belarus. At the meeting, President Putin emphasized, "Belarus is Russia's closest ally." Russia has stated that it will provide military support to the Belarusian government under the security agreement of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a military cooperation body among former Soviet Union countries. In Belarus, anti-government protests have continued for over six weeks, leading to political instability.

The Russian and Belarusian governments emphasize that the military exercises are a joint response to the West, which they claim is causing political instability in Belarus. President Lukashenko fiercely criticized NATO and Western countries, stating, "NATO has deployed troops in Lithuania, which is 15 km away from the Belarusian border."

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