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\t\t\t\tPoland to Close Border With Belarus Ahead of Zapad-2025 Military Drills
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NATO’s eastern flank members Poland, Lithuania and Latvia are on high alert due to the massive drills, which according to Tusk are designed to simulate occupation of the Suwalki corridor, a strategically important area in Poland.<\/p>\n
Usually held every four years, the 2025 iteration of Zapad is the first during the war in Ukraine, and is due to run until Sept. 16.<\/p>\n
Belarus had said in January that 13,000 troops would be involved in the drills, but in May it said the number was to be reduced by around half.<\/p>\n
Zakharova said Warsaw had “demonstratively” ignored the “goodwill” gestures by Moscow and Minsk to move the exercise away from the Polish border and to reduce the number of military personnel participating.<\/p>\n
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