Belarus and China launched joint military drills on Monday near the Belarusian city of Brest, just five kilometers from the Polish border, marking a significant military collaboration between two of Russia’s key allies. The exercises, codenamed “Eagle Assault,” are set to continue until July 19, and come as tensions rise in Eastern Europe ahead of the NATO summit in Washington scheduled for July 9-11.
The drills are intended to enhance cooperation and readiness between the Chinese and Belarusian armed forces, focusing on anti-terrorist operations. The Belarusian defense ministry announced that the exercises will include night landing maneuvers, overcoming water obstacles, and conducting operations in urban environments.
Strategic Context and Objectives
The Belarusian defense ministry emphasized that these exercises are a response to what it described as the West’s “aggressive foreign policy towards Belarus” and provocations from Ukraine. “The NATO grouping on the border with Belarus is growing rapidly, which leads to an increase in tension in the region,” the ministry posted on Telegram, suggesting that Belarus would have a “harsh reaction” to any incursions across its borders.
Vladimir Kupriyanyuk, deputy head of the general staff of the Belarus armed forces, elaborated during a press briefing that the drills aim to counteract perceived threats from NATO and to address security concerns posed by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Response from Poland and NATO
Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz has expressed concerns about the joint drills, especially given the proximity to the Polish border. He stated that Poland, along with Lithuania, plans to address border security issues at the NATO summit. “There is a hybrid war ongoing on the Poland-Belarus border, as well as on the Latvian, Lithuanian, and Estonian borders,” he remarked last week.
Broader Geopolitical Implications
Belarus’s alignment with Russia has been evident since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine in 2022. While Belarus has provided logistical support and air bases to Russia, it has not committed troops to the conflict. The current drills with China signal a strengthening of military ties between Minsk and Beijing, aligning with broader strategic interests shared with Moscow.
On July 4, Belarus became the 10th member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a group that includes China, Russia, Iran, Pakistan, and India, among others. This membership is seen as a move to bolster alliances that counterbalance Western influence.
China’s participation in the drills is notable given its complex position in global geopolitics and its partnership with Russia in promoting the SCO as a counterweight to Western alliances like NATO.
Historical Context of Belarusian Military Exercises
Belarus has a history of conducting joint military drills with Russia, including practicing the deployment of nuclear weapons. These recent exercises with China add another layer to Belarus’s military strategy and reflect its broader alignment with non-Western powers amidst ongoing regional conflicts.
