Latvia
plans to stage large-scale military maneuvers next summer seen as a response to
Belarusian-Russian exercise Zapad 2009 held in Belarus in September, Delfi
reported.
The Latvian government has budgeted funds for the exercise despite
financial problems. It is not yet clear what countries will take part.
Some Latvian politicians described Zapad 2009, which involved 12,000
troops from the two countries, as a threat to their country's security.
The Latvian defense minister said that the scenario
of the Belarusian-Russian maneuvers included a mock defense operation to rebuff
an attack on Russia's Kaliningrad exclave and an
invasion in Baltic countries.
