Belarus and Russia Announce Major Joint Military Exercises for 2025

MINSK, BELARUS – May 16, 2025 – President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus announced plans for extensive joint military exercises with Russia in 2025. These exercises, he stated, will focus on three key areas: enhancing the coordination of Belarusian and Russian forces, providing training for Belarusian military personnel at Russian academies, and strengthening military-technical collaboration. The President emphasized that these exercises are purely defensive and pose no threat to neighboring countries. "We are not just allies; we share a common defense space," Lukashenko said, highlighting the importance of these exercises in the current complex international situation. The scale of the exercises and the training of over 300 Belarusian personnel in Russia underscore the depth of the military partnership between the two nations. This initiative represents a significant step towards bolstering the defense capabilities of the Union State, a strategic alliance between Belarus and Russia.