Belarus to Host Six CSTO Military Exercises in One Month

In September, Belarus will host a series of exercises organized by the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

According to a statement from the Belarusian Ministry of Defence, the country will conduct multiple separate drills, including the Interaction-2024 (Vzaimodeystvie-2025) training with the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction forces (CRRF) and the Search-2024 ( Poisk-2025) intelligence operations exercise.

Additionally, logistics units will participate in the Eshelon-2025 exercises. It is quite possible that these drills have a hidden purpose—namely, the buildup of Russian military forces and equipment on Belarusian territory.

It is also likely that the Zapad-2025 exercises pursue the same objectives. Recently, reports emerged about the arrival of the first echelon of Russian troops and equipment in Belarus.

The Belarusian side stated that during the exercises, new tactics and methods for deploying ground forces units would be practiced – based on the analysis of modern armed conflicts.

These strategic maneuvers are held regularly every two years, alternating between the territories of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation.

According to the official version, their purpose is to practice joint defensive and offensive operations, improve coordination between the armed forces, and test readiness for various combat scenarios.

However, such exercises traditionally raise concerns among neighboring countries due to the risk of provocations, incidents, or unpredictable actions.

At the end of May, Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin stated that the main part of that year’s maneuvers would be moved deeper into the country’s territory to ‘reduce tensions.’

He also added that such a move “demonstrates a readiness for dialogue” with neighboring countries and emphasized that the Russian-Belarusian exercises were “not directed against any country.”

In response to Zapad-2025, Poland will hold its own strategic exercise, Żelazny Obrońca (Iron Defender), in September, which will also involve several NATO member countries.