WORLD

U.S. Officers Make Surprise Visit To Belarus To Watch Joint Drills Between Russia and Belarus

By The ClearScope Network | @ClearScopeNet

In a move that stunned NATO allies, U.S. military officers made a surprise visit to Belarus this week to watch the Zapad-2025 war games — massive joint drills between Belarus and Russia, the same Russia that launched its 2022 invasion of Ukraine in part from Belarusian territory.

Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin welcomed the Americans personally, telling them they could “see whatever you want” as they toured the training grounds near Borisov. Belarus framed the U.S. presence as unexpected, though officials proudly noted that delegations from 23 countries, including NATO members Turkey and Hungary, were also observing.

The visit came just days after Poland was forced to shoot down Russian drones that crossed into its airspace — underscoring the stakes of these so-called “exercises.” Video released by Belarus showed U.S. officers shaking Khrenin’s hand but declining to take questions, a moment that Belarus was eager to spin as proof of international legitimacy.

Trump’s Belarus Play

At the same time, Donald Trump has been busy trying to cultivate ties with Belarus’s authoritarian leader, Alexander Lukashenko — a longtime ally of Vladimir Putin. Last week, Trump envoy John Coale traveled to Minsk and walked away with a deal: Lukashenko would release 52 political prisoners, including journalists, while Trump’s team would push for sanctions relief.

The relief came almost immediately. The Biden administration, pressured by Trump’s back-channeling, lifted restrictions on Belavia, Belarus’s national airline, allowing it to buy parts for its Boeing fleet.

Coale bragged afterward that Trump wants to reopen the U.S. embassy in Belarus, restore trade, and bring Minsk back into Washington’s orbit. He even hand-delivered Lukashenko a signed letter from Trump himself — a striking gesture to a dictator who helped enable Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Why This Matters

The presence of U.S. officers at Zapad-2025 and Trump’s outreach to Lukashenko paint a troubling picture. Belarus has been one of Putin’s closest allies, providing him with staging grounds, political cover, and economic lifelines. Now Trump appears to be laying the groundwork for warmer U.S.-Belarus relations — even as Belarus hosts Russian forces on NATO’s doorstep.

This isn’t just about “strengthening connections.” It’s about a twice-impeached, four-times-indicted former president once again signaling to Putin and his friends that they can count on him. For Ukraine, for NATO, and for the future of European security, that should ring alarm bells.