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Belarus, Russia to hold Zapad 2021 army exercise in autumn

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MINSK, 11 February (BelTA) – Belarus and Russia will hold the Zapad 2021 army exercise in the autumn, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said in his report at the 6th Belarusian People’s Congress on 11 February, BelTA informs.

The head of state assured that Belarus will continue paying special attention to the development of the Armed Forces. “Belarus has one of the best armies in the region, our opponents acknowledge that. But this status should rely on efficient combat training, modern military equipment and vehicles, modernized military infrastructure,” he said.

According to the president, Belarus will also continue military cooperation with Russia and other CSTO countries. “We have to strengthen the defense capacity of the country due to the escalation of the military and political situation in the Eastern European region. Especially near our borders,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. In his words, multinational NATO forces are permanently located in Poland and Baltic countries. Every year they hold army exercises with the relocation of big army contingents from the American continent to Europe. Several weeks ago Poland even hosted winder staff exercises and used computers to simulate the future war of NATO against a regional force grouping of Belarus and Russia. “Using those exercises and that noise which emerged, first of all, in Poland, they stimulate additional assignments for the development of their army in Poland and NATO troops,” the Belarusian leader said.

“In the autumn 2021 we will hold the joint Belarus-Russia army exercise Zapad 2021. The majority of events will take place in Belarus, at Belarusian shooting ranges,” the president said.

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