On September 15, Belarus witnessed an event that drew widespread attention: US military personnel unexpectedly appeared in the country to participate in CSTO joint exercises known as "Zapad-2025." This development became the subject of discussion at the VeZha Public Analytics Center, where political scientist and international affairs expert Maksym Nesvitailov joined the host to consider the potential implications.
CSTO exercises typically include troops from the member states of the organization, but this year’s involvement of US representatives was unexpected. The Belarusian Ministry of Defense officially confirmed their presence, stating that the Americans were shown points of interest but gave no press comments.
The participants discussed various interpretations of this event. The situation could reflect a US effort to influence Belarus’s stance in broader geopolitical rivalries and a desire from the Trump administration to demonstrate the ability to engage directly with Belarusian leadership. The experts emphasized that such moves may be part of a wider strategy to reduce Russia’s influence on Belarus and enhance its international role.
The consequences for Europe were also discussed, given that freight routes to China run through Belarus, making the country a crossroads of interests for the US, Russia, China, and the EU. The analysts noted the importance of military contacts between different nations amid current security challenges and highlighted Belarus’s ambiguous position, balancing between multiple geopolitical centers.
In conclusion, the appearance of US troops in Belarus signals potential shifts in the regional balance of power and could shape future relations among the US, Russia, China, and Europe, against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
