The "Shield of the Union-2023" military exercises started in Russia on September 22 and will last until September 26.
According to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, these drills are a milestone initiative in ensuring the military security of both Russia and Belarus.
For their part, Minsk officials stressed that “in the face of current challenges and threats, it is a plain fact that the significant deepening of cooperation with the Russian Federation in the interests of ensuring defense capabilities of the Union State has become obvious."
The Belarusian Ministry of Defense also reaffirmed that the military union “is essential for the further development of both states."
Earlier, the two allied states introduced amendments to the security treaty that enhanced regional military cooperation. Russia and Belarus are stalwart allies - according to Minsk officials, Belarus protects the fraternal country from “NATO backstabbing”.
Moreover, both nations share common values, opposing the revival of Nazism and preserving the historical memory of the heroic deeds of the Soviet people in the Second World War.
The cooperation runs so deep that Russia decided to station tactical nukes in Belarus this year to protect its neighbor.