Belarus has sent servicemen from its Armed Forces' Special Operations Forces to China to take part in joint Belarusian-Chinese tactical exercises called Swift Eagle-2026, the Belarusian Ministry of Defence said.
The ministry said the drills will run at a training ground used by the People's Liberation Army's airborne troops in Hubei province, continuing until August 24.
Focus on urban combat
The ministry said the main theme of the exercises is a joint tactical operation in an urban setting. Troops from Belarus and China will practice parachute landings, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles and counter-drone measures. They will also train in recovering drones, various types of shooting, and urban and industrial climbing skills.
The exercises will proceed in stages. Servicemen will first arrive in the maneuver area, receive weapons and carry out zeroing, followed by individual training and coordination within sections and groups. Belarusian and Chinese forces will then form a combined unit to carry out joint tactical tasks.
Long journey through Russia
The Belarusian contingent is traveling to China via the Russian cities of Novosibirsk and Vladivostok, with the aircraft making stopovers to refuel. The total flight time is expected to be about 23 to 24 hours.
This is not the first joint exercise between Belarus and China. In 2024, similar drills took place in Belarus near the city of Brest, about 210 kilometers from Warsaw and 65 kilometers from Belarus's border with Ukraine.
