Moscow and Minsk insist, however, that the drills are defensive, adding that Western security concerns are \u2018nonsense\u2019.<\/p>\n
Russia has showcased some of its advanced weapons while conducting a joint military drill with Belarusian troops amid heightened tensions with NATO countries following alleged violations of the airspaces of Poland and Romania by Moscow.<\/p>\n
Approximately 7,000 troops, including 6,000 Belarusian soldiers, participated in exercises held at locations in Belarus and Russia.<\/p>\n
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Russia conducted a test strike with a Kalibr missile from the nuclear submarine named Arkhangelsk in the Barents Sea during the joint Russia-Belarus \u201cZapad\u201d military drills, Russian news agency Interfax reported on Monday. The strike on the designated target was carried out by the submarine from an underwater position, Interfax reported.<\/p>\n
Moscow and Minsk insisted on Tuesday that the drills are defensive, meant to simulate a response to an invasion.<\/p>\n
But NATO states along the alliance\u2019s eastern flank see them as a threat, particularly after alleged Russian drones<\/a> crossed into Polish airspace last week. Warsaw has since warned that \u201copen conflict\u201d is closer now than at any point since World War II. Romania on Sunday accused<\/a> Russia of drone incursion during its attacks on Ukraine.<\/p>\n Britain\u2019s Labour Party-led government on Monday announced its fighter jets will fly air defence missions over Poland to counter aerial threats.<\/p>\n Russia has been at war with Ukraine since it launched a ground invasion in 2022.<\/p>\n Belarus\u2019s Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin dismissed the NATO concerns.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have heard a lot of things \u2026 that we are threatening NATO, that we are going to invade the Baltic states,\u201d he told reporters at the Barysaw base, east of Minsk. \u201cSimply put, all kinds of nonsense.\u201d<\/p>\n