Belarus Launches CFE Large-Scale WMD Defense Exercise
On October 11, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Joint Information Center announced the commencement of the specialized exercise “Barrier-2026” within Belarusian territory. During the exercise, units responsible for radiological, chemical, and biological defense, as well as medical support, will conduct drills aimed at neutralizing biological threat sources. Concurrently, a command post exercise codenamed “Unbreakable Brotherhood-2026” will be conducted to simulate planning and execution of peacekeeping operations.
Forces from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan, along with law enforcement agencies, national guard units, and components of the CSTO Joint Staff and Secretariat Operations Group, are participating. According to CSTO data, the exercise involves more than 1,500 military personnel and over 300 pieces of weapons and specialized equipment, including approximately 80 drones of various types.
Ruslan Shpekbayev, Deputy Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff, stated in a commentary on the exercise that "conflict potential" in the region surrounding the CSTO’s area of responsibility continues to rise. He also noted that during Russia’s tenure as rotating chair, priority tasks include maintaining high readiness levels among peacekeeping forces, refining legal frameworks governing peacekeeping operations, strengthening joint nuclear, biological, and chemical defense and medical support capabilities, integrating new scientific and medical technologies, and enhancing civil-military coordination.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1878772046720076/
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