The main concept of the Combat Brotherhood 2023 exercise is to find ways of counteracting the challenges and threats that may emerge in Collective Security Treaty Organization countries, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin told BelTA.
Viktor Khrenin
Viktor Khrenin said: “In a bid to demonize the Republic of Belarus, individual Western politicians are trying to see some conspiracy in the ongoing CSTO exercise. They should not look for it. It is a scheduled exercise. It is open. A CSTO country hosts it every year. The main concept, the goal of the exercise is to find ways and means of counteracting the threats and challenges that may emerge in Collective Security Treaty Organization countries. By organizing exercises in one of the CSTO states, we allow troops to train in different terrains: mountains, deserts, steppes or forests and swamps like in Belarus.”
He pointed out that it is not the first time such an exercise has been held in Belarus. In his words, participants and international observers always give high praise to them. “And all of today's exercises are taking place in strict compliance with the concept and without any deviations. We demonstrate transparency and openness. We've invited military attaches, observers, and the diplomatic corps. Nineteen countries have confirmed their participation in the observer capacity in the ongoing CSTO exercise. Of them three countries are NATO member states,” Viktor Khrenin noted.
The official added that, unfortunately, Poland had refused the invitation. “It once again demonstrates that they don't want to establish normal, good neighborly relations with us. We extend a hand to them. They strike it. But it is their business. Let's see how they will act later on. A military exercise is supposed to take place in Poland on 17 September. A NATO exercise involving over 8,000 people will begin in Latvia tomorrow. Let's see whether they will invite us or not,” the Belarusian defense minister said.
The operational and strategic Collective Security Treaty Organization military exercise Combat Brotherhood is taking place in Belarus on 1-6 September. Joint and special exercises have been planned. They focus on training different components of the CSTO collective forces. The exercises are taking place in military training areas and various locations in Brest Oblast, Grodno Oblast, and Minsk Oblast. In particular, today military pilots practiced using highway strips as backup airfields. The landing of military aircraft An-26, Su-25, Yak-130, and Su-30SM on the M1 motorway was one of the main episodes of this stage of the exercise.
