The topic of military-technical cooperation is constantly present during the Russian-Belarusian contacts at the highest level, the Kremlin representative noted
MOSCOW, September 13. /TASS/. Russia and Belarus will continue to develop military-technical cooperation (MTC) and the practice of conducting joint military exercises, Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation, told reporters on Monday.
"Joint military exercises are an ongoing process. You know, this is not the first exercise. They were previously held, so this is an ongoing process, which, of course, will continue. The process of improving the skills and training of both the Russian and Belarusian armed forces will have its constant continuation, "the Kremlin representative said, answering a question about the Russian-Belarusian exercises"West-2021".
"The topic of military-technical cooperation is constantly present in the course of Russian-Belarusian contacts at the highest level," Peskov said. "This cooperation will also develop," he assured.
The press secretary informed that on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin will go to the Nizhny Novgorod Region, " where he, together with Defense Minister [Sergei] Shoigu, Chief of the General Staff [Valery] Gerasimov, and Governor [of the Nizhny Novgorod Region] Gleb Nikitin, will observe the practical actions of troops during the active phase of the joint strategic exercise of the Armed Forces of Belarus and the Russian Federation "West-2021".
The position of Russia and Belarus on the exercises
On September 9, at a press conference after talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Putin said that the Zapad-2021 exercises were not directed against anyone. He explained that holding joint exercises "is logical in conditions when other associations, NATO, for example, are actively increasing their presence near the borders of the Union State and the space of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)."
Lukashenko, in turn, said that Minsk and Moscow will step up their counteraction to military threats, but called the West's concern about the exercises unnecessary.
About the exercises
The joint strategic exercises of the Russian Federation and Belarus "West-2021" are held on September 10-16 at the military training grounds of the two countries. About 200 thousand people, more than 80 planes and helicopters, up to 760 units of military equipment will take part in them. The scenario of the exercises involves responding to the aggravation of the international situation and possible aggression against the Union State.
