Baltic countries request Belarus to provide additional explanations regarding Union Resolve-2022 military training

Baltic countries have submitted through Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) a formal request for additional explanations about military training in Belarus, which are necessary to better understand the level of Russia-Belarus joint military training Union Resolve-2022 (“Союзная решимость-2022”) conducted from February 10th to February 20th.

Baltic countries have decided to trigger the procedures stipulated in Chapter III of OSCE Vienna Document on Risk Reduction. These procedures allow Participating States consult and co-operate with each other about any unusual and unscheduled activities of their military forces outside their normal peacetime locations which are militarily significant and about which a participating State expresses its security concern. 

Union Resolve-2022 military training is unscheduled. However, several top Russian and Belarusian military officials have made public statements about considerable number of troops and military equipment being involved. 

Given the increasing tensions, Russia’s aggressive rhetoric and military build-up near Ukrainian border, lack of military transparency about training of such magnitude towards Participating States of OSCE may undermine regional security and arms control arrangements.

Request submitted by the Baltic countries details their concerns about size and transparency of the training. Baltic countries expect Belarus to give additional information about Union Resolve-2022, such as number of infantry troops, types of forces, their quantity, affiliation, locations, number of weapon system units and data about return of these military units to their normal peacetime locations. Baltic countries also urge Belarus to ensure adherence to military transparency standards set out in Vienna document and give OSCE Participating State observers access to training.

According to Vienna Document, Belarus now has 48 hours to reply to the request and give answers. Should Baltic countries not be satisfied with information provided in the reply and decide to convene a special meeting to discuss their concerns, such a meeting shall take place at the OSCE Vienna headquarters. Other concerned OSCE states are also entitled to take part in the meeting. 

Request for additional information is based on Belarus’s decision to turn down arms control visit. Formal rejection was received shortly before this request. Latvia, in accordance with provisions of bilateral cooperation agreement, announced bilateral inspection visit to Belarus on 2 February. Belarus rejected it based on Covid-19 safety protocols. By allowing military inspectors access to the training, Belarus would enable experts estimate the level of training in respective area, especially when it intends to engage in activities that need to be notified in advance according to Vienna Document. Inspecting officers of Latvian Armed Forces would observe training and collect information about number of units in training area, their composition, tasks and intended military manoeuvres, and thus promote trust and security in the region. 

After formal rejection, Belarus offered inspectors to observe the final phase of Union Resolve-2022 on 18-20 February, claiming that such step would strengthen the transparency. Such behaviour on the part of Belarus, when inspection is rejected on the grounds of pandemic and then Latvian and Lithuanian experts are invited to observe the training in scope of agenda solely coordinated by Belarus, can be construed as ‘cherry picking’ with regards to application of Vienna Document, and also bilateral agreements. If Belarusian Armed Forces have no intention to hide details of the military training, there should be no restrictions with regard to participation of observers and implementation of relevant arms control arrangements and commitments.  

Latvia firmly believes that there should be no ‘cherry picking’ when it comes to European security and arms control regimes. Full transparency and implementation of relevant arms control agreements and commitments is the only way forward.

Media contacts:
Media Relations Section
Military Public Affairs Department
Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia
E-mail: prese@mod.gov.lv
Website: www.mod.gov.lv