Poland will close its border with Belarus at midnight local time on Thursday due to the “West” military exercises taking place in Belarus, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Tuesday, and Lithuania also announced strengthening security measures on its border with Belarus and Russia.
The “West-2025” military exercises, which will be held in western Russia and Belarus, have caused concern in neighboring NATO member states – Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia.
“On Friday in Belarus, very close to the Polish border, Russian-Belarusian maneuvers will begin, very aggressive from the perspective of military doctrine,” Tusk said at a government meeting.
“Therefore, for national security, we will close the border with Belarus, including rail-road crossings, in connection with the West maneuvers on Thursday at midnight.”
The West exercises will include drills of possible use of nuclear weapons and the Russian medium-range hypersonic missile Oreshnik, the Belarusian defense minister said.
NATO will, at the same time, hold exercises on its side of the border.
Lithuania also announced that it will strengthen protection measures on its border with Belarus and Russia due to the “West” military exercises, Lithuania’s border guard announced on Tuesday.
The Belarusian and Russian embassies in Warsaw did not respond to a request for comment.
Belarusian media reported on Thursday that a Polish citizen was arrested in Belarus on suspicion of espionage because he possessed documents related to those military exercises.
