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Zapad 2025: Russia’s Military Drills Raise International Alarm

Latvia’s Defence Chief, Kaspars Pudāns, has expressed concern regarding the upcoming joint military exercises between Russia and Belarus.

According to Pudāns, the Zapad drills—held every four years since 2013—are a recurring source of unease for Latvia’s armed forces, particularly due to their proximity to the country’s borders. While these manoeuvres are officially described as routine, they consistently prompt heightened alert levels within the Latvian military. This heightened state includes intensified intelligence efforts focused on Russian and Belarusian troop movements, greater operational readiness, and the execution of Latvia’s own training exercises.

Pudāns recalls that in both 2021 and 2022, unannounced Russian military activities near Ukraine eventually escalated into a full-scale invasion. He suggests that the nature and scope of the upcoming Zapad drills may be influenced by developments on the Ukrainian front.

He stressed that Latvian defence forces will remain vigilant, continuing to track not only the exercises themselves but also any shifts in the deployment or withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.

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