MINSK. Aug 5 (Interfax) - The Zapad 2021 (West 2021) exercise is of a defensive nature, and its scenario features aggression against the Union State of Russia and Belarus, the Belarusian Defense Ministry said.
The Defense Ministry held a briefing for the media and accredited military attaches on Wednesday to share information about the upcoming joint strategic exercise of the Russian and Belarusian armed forces, Zapad 2021.
"The planning is based on a possible military-political scenario featuring an escalation of international differences to a level capable of destabilizing the situation in the region and unleashing aggression against the Union State. It is based on the scenario of a crisis, the escalation and emergence of a conflict caused by the intensified activity of illegal armed units, separatist and international terrorist organizations which have external support," Chief of the Belarusian General Staff and First Deputy Defense Minister Viktor Gulevich, who is supervising the exercise on the part of Belarus, said.
"The Zapad 2021 joint strategic exercise is a defensive exercise that reaffirms the course of the Republic of Belarus toward strengthening regional security and commitment to allied obligations to the Russian Federation," Gulevich said.