At the invitation of Belarus
US military observe Russia’s “Sapad” maneuver
Updated on September 15th, 2025 – 4:50 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
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The Russian-Belarussian military exercise “Sapad 2025” has been taking place since Friday. US military also take part this Monday.
US military persons followed the large maneuver “Sapad-2025” from Russia and Belarus on Monday as observer. Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Chrenin told them that they could “see everything that is of interest to them”. A total of 23 countries were approved as observers, including two other NATO members with Turkey and Hungary.
The presence of the US officers is the latest sign of approaching between the United States and Belarus, a narrow ally of Russia. In February 2022, Belarus made its territory available for the invasion of Ukraine.
Last week, a representative of US President Donald Trump, John Coale, had traveled to Minsk for talks with the Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukaschenko. Lukaschko then approved the release of 52 prisoners, including journalists and political opponents. In return, the United States granted the state -owned Belarusian airline Belavia facilitate existing sanctions.
In the neighboring country of Lithuania, too, there is increased vigilance. So far, however, the country has not registered any incidents at its limits during the “Sapad” maneuver. “The first weekend of the active phase of the SAPAD exercises was relatively quiet, both in terms of illegal migration and other incidents at the state border. Border protection officers did not register unusual activities,” said border protection boss Rustamas Liubajevas in Lithuanian radio. Furthermore, according to the authorities of the Baltic EU and NATO country, there are risks.
Russia and its ally Belarus practice the joint use of their armed forces in the maneuver. This year’s exercise is significantly lower to the extent than in earlier years, but focuses heavily on the use of drones, said Lithuanian Minister of Defense Dovile Sakalien. “Russia is currently trying to demonstrate that despite its stuck in Ukraine, it has additional skills and further develops them.”
