12.08.2025, 10:51
Minsk invited all OSCE members to observe the exercises
Source: OREANDA-NEWS
OREANDA-NEWS Minsk has invited all members of the Vienna Document on Confidence- and Security-building Measures in Europe, without exception, to observe the Belarusian–Russian military exercises Zapad-2025 in September in the republic, head of the Department of International Military Cooperation and Assistant Minister of Defense of Belarus Valery Revenko told reporters.
"Based on the requirements of the Vienna document ... back in 2024, the OSCE states were notified of the holding of the Zapad-2025 joint strategic exercise of the armed forces of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation in September this year. On July 31, we provided expanded information on the exercises and invited representatives of all participating states of the Vienna Document to observe, without exception." - said Revenko.
He stressed that those countries that send their observers to the exercises will be able to verify their openness and transparency.
In addition, Revenko continued, all foreign military attaches accredited to the Ministry of Defense, including representatives of 9 NATO states: Hungary, Germany, Turkey, Czech Republic, Italy, Norway, Finland, USA, Bulgaria, will have the opportunity to observe the exercises. He added that invitations to observe individual episodes of the exercise have been sent to other countries and international organizations, including the CSTO, the CIS, and the SCO.
The Assistant Minister stressed that in order to maintain regional security and restore trust and good-neighborly relations in Europe, Belarus provides for ensuring maximum openness and transparency of military activities carried out on its territory.
"All this is an eloquent confirmation that the Republic of Belarus is a supporter of ensuring regional security," Revenko stressed.
He stated that Belarus is categorically opposed to the ongoing large-scale militarization, which leads to a violation of the balance of power in Europe, which, in turn, results in a decrease in strategic stability in the world as a whole.
The head of the Ministry of Defense of Belarus, Viktor Khrenin, said earlier that a decision had been made to reduce the parameters of the Zapad-2025 exercises and move the main maneuvers deep into the territory of Belarus from the western borders. Later, Valery Revenko, head of the Department of International Military Cooperation and Assistant Minister of Defense of Belarus, explained that the updated plan of the Belarusian-Russian Zapad-2025 exercises involves reducing the number of participants by almost half.
At the beginning of 2025, Revenko reported that the upcoming joint exercises of Belarus and Russia Zapad-2025 in September would exceed 13,000 personnel in scale, so in accordance with the Vienna Document on Confidence-building and Security Measures in Europe, they belong to the category of observable. Then Minsk notified all the participating countries of the Vienna Document that these exercises would take place and about their scale.
"Based on the requirements of the Vienna document ... back in 2024, the OSCE states were notified of the holding of the Zapad-2025 joint strategic exercise of the armed forces of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation in September this year. On July 31, we provided expanded information on the exercises and invited representatives of all participating states of the Vienna Document to observe, without exception." - said Revenko.
He stressed that those countries that send their observers to the exercises will be able to verify their openness and transparency.
In addition, Revenko continued, all foreign military attaches accredited to the Ministry of Defense, including representatives of 9 NATO states: Hungary, Germany, Turkey, Czech Republic, Italy, Norway, Finland, USA, Bulgaria, will have the opportunity to observe the exercises. He added that invitations to observe individual episodes of the exercise have been sent to other countries and international organizations, including the CSTO, the CIS, and the SCO.
The Assistant Minister stressed that in order to maintain regional security and restore trust and good-neighborly relations in Europe, Belarus provides for ensuring maximum openness and transparency of military activities carried out on its territory.
"All this is an eloquent confirmation that the Republic of Belarus is a supporter of ensuring regional security," Revenko stressed.
He stated that Belarus is categorically opposed to the ongoing large-scale militarization, which leads to a violation of the balance of power in Europe, which, in turn, results in a decrease in strategic stability in the world as a whole.
The head of the Ministry of Defense of Belarus, Viktor Khrenin, said earlier that a decision had been made to reduce the parameters of the Zapad-2025 exercises and move the main maneuvers deep into the territory of Belarus from the western borders. Later, Valery Revenko, head of the Department of International Military Cooperation and Assistant Minister of Defense of Belarus, explained that the updated plan of the Belarusian-Russian Zapad-2025 exercises involves reducing the number of participants by almost half.
At the beginning of 2025, Revenko reported that the upcoming joint exercises of Belarus and Russia Zapad-2025 in September would exceed 13,000 personnel in scale, so in accordance with the Vienna Document on Confidence-building and Security Measures in Europe, they belong to the category of observable. Then Minsk notified all the participating countries of the Vienna Document that these exercises would take place and about their scale.
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