US military officials pay rare visit to Russia-Belarus drills
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Pilots of a Russian Mikoyan MiG-31 a supersonic interceptor aircraft preparing for flight in the joint military drills with the Belarus armed forces.
PHOTO: EPA
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BARYSAW, Belarus - Russia’s key ally Belarus invited US military representatives to joint military drills being staged on Sept 15, amid escalating tensions between Russia and Nato over its offensive on Ukraine.
The Zapad (West) drills, running until Sept 16 across Belarus, have spooked Nato’s eastern members following the downing of Russian drones in its airspace.
“The best viewing seats will be provided for you,” Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin told US military attache Bryan Shoupe in a visit to the drills in the Belarusian city of Barysaw, east of Minsk.
Minsk said on Sept 15 that around 7,000 troops were taking part in the drills – 6,000 from Belarus and 1,000 from Russia.
Visits by US army representatives to drills staged by Russia or its allies are rare, especially after Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
“Thank you for the invitation,” said Mr Shoupe, shaking hands with Mr Khrenin.
Representatives from 22 other countries – including Nato members Turkey and Hungary – were also observing the drills.
The presence of the US officers is the latest sign of warming ties between Washington and Belarus, a close Russian ally that allowed Moscow to use its territory to send tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022.
US Air Force Lt Col Bryan Shoupe observes the joint Russia-Belarus Zapad-2025 military drills near Borisov, Belarus on Sept 15.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Mr John Coale, a Trump representative, was in Minsk last week for talks with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, who agreed to release 52 prisoners from his jails
The US granted sanctions relief to Belarus's national airline Belavia in return, allowing it to service and buy components for its fleet, which includes Boeing aircraft. Mr Trump wants to reopen the US embassy in Belarus in the near future, normalise ties, and revive the economic and trade relationship, Mr Coale said.
Mr Trump, who has been trying to broker an end to the war in Ukraine, is cultivating closer ties with Mr Lukashenko, who regularly holds talks with Mr Putin. Last week Mr Trump sent Mr Lukashenko a friendly hand-signed letter via Mr Coale. AFP, REUTERS
