In a climate of increased intensity in the Baltic, Germany began the largest military exercise with NATO allies, which will coincide with Zapad Russia and Belarus exercise, with Berlin warning Moscow not to escalate the situation.

About 8,000 German soldiers will take part in Quadriga 2025which will take place in Germany, Lithuania, Finland and the Baltic Sea, the Armed Forces leader, Karsen Broyer, told Berlin. On the other hand, regular Russian-white-white Zapad exercise will include about 13,000 soldiers In Belarus, near the border with Lithuania, and another 30,000 in Russian territory.

“We want to prevent, we do not want escalation,” Broyer told reporters, noting that the exercises on both sides “inevitably” would coincide. “Moscow also uses Zapad to cause uncertainty and, of course, to talk about escalation in response.”

Russia and Belarus are completing preparations for the start of Zapad in mid -September. The corresponding exercise in 2021 had up to 200,000 troops and was held six months before Vladimir Putin ordered the general invasion of Ukraine.

Broyer stressed that there is no evidence that this year’s Russian exercise is related to the preparation of an attack, but “we remain alert” and the army is preparing for the worst scenario.

“The threat remains unchanged, both hybrid and conventional,” he said. “Putin watches us and his plans are far beyond Ukraine. As Armed Forces, we must be ready for it. “

The deterrence remains the best scenario, the German general added, but Germany and its allies are also prepared for a possible escalation.

The German Armed Forces began exercises with 13 other countries to simulate defense operations in the Baltic region in the event of a crisis or war. The soldiers will practice the clearing of mines and the protection against multi -dimensional threats, with the defense against drones being a key part of the script.

Lithuania has closed temporary sections of its airspace near the border with Belarus in view of Zapad, so that it can intercept aircraft that will violate the banning zone or drones that will deviate, according to the government in Vilnius.

The Lithuanian secret services estimate that Zapad exercises will extend from the Arctic to Belarus and the Russian Kaliningrad enclave.

“Challenges are possible,” said Lithuanian military -border leader Midugas Mazonas on the LRT public network. “There are incidents in every exercise – such could be, for example, airspace violations or even cyberattacks.”