The Russian and Belarusian military maneuver that began on Thursday (14.09) is called "Zapad" and aims to show exactly where the West should be concerned.
Russia and Belarus have begun the extended maneuver, criticized on an international scale, under the name "Zapad" - the West. In this exercise, soldiers will be trained for modern conflicts, the Ministry of Defense announced in Moscow. "The training has a purely defensive function, and is not directed against any country or group of countries," Moscow said.
100.000 or "only" 12.700 soldiers?
In the seven-day exercises, according to official data, soldiers from both countries, about 250 tanks and warships will have to participate. Some NATO countries are of the opinion that the number of soldiers in the maneuver is much higher. German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen estimates up to 100.000 soldiers. Critics are also afraid of the fact that the soldiers will not leave the country after the maneuvers.
Stoltenberg: There is no immediate danger
The number of soldiers matters in military maneuvers. If the participation of 13.000 soldiers in the maneuvers is exceeded, Russia, according to OSCE regulations, must allow foreign observers. Since the annexation of Crimea in January 2014, nervousness in the region and among its western neighbors has increased. In cases of maneuvers, the fear of war circulates. The Russian Minister of Defense, Sergey Schoigu, had declared that "this maneuver is the most important event for the armed forces". But the eastern neighbors and NATO have doubts that it is only a defense maneuver.
In response to the Russian maneuvers, the US deployed fighter jets to Lithuania. US warships are also expected to move to the Baltic Sea. NATO is alert, but "there is no immediate danger," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday.
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