Zapad 2021: Comprehensive Drills Aimed at NATO Countries
Zapad 2021: Comprehensive Drills Aimed at NATO Countries

Author(s): Anna Maria Dyner
Subject(s): Politics, International relations/trade, Security and defense, Military policy
Published by: PISM Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych
Keywords: Russia; Belarus; West; 2021; NATO; USSR;
Summary/Abstract: The active phase of the Belarusian-Russian Zapad 2021 exercises ended on 16 September. They were the largest manoeuvres in Russia’s western strategic direction since the collapse of the USSR. They were accompanied by hybrid actions aimed mainly at the countries of NATO’s Eastern Flank, and they will continue after the manoeuvres. It was also another demonstration of Russia’s readiness to use force against the Alliance and a presentation of the high degree of interoperability of the armed forces of both countries. For NATO, the deepening military integration of Russia and Belarus requires an update of the Alliance’s defence plans and continued reinforcement of its Eastern Flank.

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