U.S. military officers visited Belarus to observe the Zapad-2025 joint Russian-Belarusian military exercises, the country’s defense ministry said Monday.
“We’ll show you whatever you’re interested in, whatever you want. You can go and see for yourself, talk to people,” Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin told the American officers at the Borisovsky training ground in the Minsk region.
Video released by the ministry showed two men in U.S. Air Force uniforms, both with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, shaking hands with Khrenin, with one thanking him in Russian. The officers were identified as American military attachés.
Reuters reported that the American officers declined to speak with reporters. U.S. officials did not immediately comment on the visit.
The Zapad-2025 drills, which began Friday and run through Tuesday, are aimed at testing Belarus and Russia’s ability to repel an enemy attack and retake lost territory.
Belarus has invited observers from nine NATO members and other countries to monitor the exercises for “openness and transparency.”
On Monday, the Belarusian Defense Ministry said Turkey and Hungary were among those attending, bringing the total number of foreign countries represented at the war games to 23.
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