MOSCOW. Dec 24 (Interfax) - The Russian Defense Ministry plans to invite foreign Armed Forces servicemen to the West 2021 exercise it will conduct together with Belarus, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov said.
"Next year, the highlight of the combat training program of the Armed Forces will be the West 2021 joint strategic exercise of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus. Traditionally, military contingents of foreign states will be invited to take part in it," Gerasimov said at a press briefing for foreign attaches on Thursday.
Contingents from five countries participated in the Caucasus 2020 strategic command-and-staff exercise, he said.
The scenario of the maneuvers "did not include actions against any countries and was of a defensive nature," Gerasimov said.
"One of the specific features of the exercise was the establishment of coalition groups, operation planning, and control over them within a unified system. In addition, new forms of forces' engagement and methods of warfare were tested during defensive maneuvers and the destruction of the opposing force," he said.
The West 2021 exercise will be co-hosted by Russia and Belarus in September. Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier at an expanded meeting of the Defense Ministry board that foreign observers should be invited to the drills.