Belarus Sent Special Forces to China for Joint Tactical Exercises

Service members of the Special Operations Forces of the Belarusian Armed Forces have departed for China to participate in the joint Belarusian-Chinese tactical exercises Swift Eagle 2026.

This was reported by the Belarusian Ministry of Defense.

The exercises will take place at the training ground of the Airborne Forces of the People’s Liberation Army of China in Hubei Province. The maneuvers will last until August 24.

The main focus of the exercises will be conducting a joint tactical operation in an urban environment.

Belarusian and Chinese servicemen will practice parachute drops, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, and countering drones.

The troops will also train together to assemble drones, conduct various types of live-fire exercises, and apply urban and industrial climbing skills.

The exercises will be conducted in several stages. First, the servicemen will arrive at the maneuver area, receive their weapons, and conduct sighting exercises. Next, they will undergo individual training and conduct squad and group coordination exercises.

After that, Belarusian and Chinese military personnel will form a combined unit and practice joint tactical tasks.

The Belarusian contingent will travel to China via Novosibirsk and Vladivostok. The aircraft will make stopovers for refueling, and the total flight time will be approximately 23–24 hours.

This is not the first joint military exercise between Belarus and China. For example, in 2024, exercises were held near the Belarusian city of Brest, directly on the Belarusian-Polish border, approximately 210 kilometers from Warsaw and 65 kilometers from Minsk to the border with Ukraine.

The units of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army arrived in Belarus on the eve of the exercises, just a few days after Belarus joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Prior to the arrival of the Chinese military, the Belarusian Ministry of Defense and Border Guard Service conducted a joint information campaign directed against Ukraine.