Over 100,000 to 150,000 soldiers are expected to take part in the "West" military exercises scheduled in Belarus, as stated by a Latvian general.
War of Words: Latvia's Alarm Over Russia's Zapad Exercises
Get ready for some heat, folks! The Latvian military ain't playing games when it comes to Russia's Zapad exercises in 2025. According to Major General Andis Dilāns, a high-rankingLatvian defense official, Russia is looking at these drills as a covert military mobilization, pulling as many as 100,000 to 150,000 troops to Belarus.
Radio NV had the chance to chat with Dilāns, the Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Defense of Latvia overseeing logistics and national armaments, about the expected Zapad exercises. He shared that Russia often cooks the books on numbers, claiming around 13,000 troops for these types of exercises. But, with Russia no longer a participant in the Vienna Document on Confidence and Security Building Measures (CSBM), they can slap any numbers they want on these exercises.
So, what's behind this staggering figure? Well, Dilāns points the finger at the war in Ukraine. If there's a ceasefire, Moscow might just redirect troops from the Ukrainian front to Belarus for conscript training during the Zapad exercises. He also mentioned reservists, as an attempt by Russia to recall them to bolster its forces in Ukraine last year flopped.
The Latvian general's conclusion? The Zapad exercises are a stealthy military mobilization for Russia's forces. While the official participation numbers announced by Belarus and Russia are lighter—around 13,000 to 14,000 troops—intelligence assessments suggest that actual participation within Belarus will be much lower, potentially in the thousands. But hey, you never know what Russia's up to, right?
[This information is based on estimates and statements by Latvian military officials and should be taken with a grain of salt.]
Fun Fact: Did you know that Zapad exercises originated in Soviet times, meaning "West"? Strange move from Mother Russia, huh? Keep an eye on this situation, folks! We've got the lowdown, and we'll keep you posted on any updates.
The Latvian military's concern over Russia's Zapad exercises in 2025 extends beyond the announced troop numbers, as politics and war-and-conflicts in Ukraine might lead to covert military mobilization. This situation, reminiscent of Cold War tensions, is shaping up to be a significant event in the realm of general news and crime-and-justice, as debates about confidence and security building measures continue amidst Russia's non-participation in such agreements.
