U.S. military officers made an unanticipated visit to a Belarusian training ground on Monday to watch joint exercises between Russia and Belarus.
The "Zapad-2025" drills kicked off on Friday across sites in both nations, occurring against a backdrop of increased friction with NATO.
This came just two days after Poland intercepted Russian drones that entered its airspace.
The Belarusian defense ministry highlighted the American presence as a surprise element among observers from 23 countries, including NATO ally such as Turkey.
Video footage released by the ministry depicted two U.S. officers in uniform expressing thanks to Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin for the invitation and exchanging handshakes with him.
The minister assured them access to observe freely.
The Zapad-2025 exercises, held every four years, involve fewer troops this time compared to the 200,000 participants in 2022.
Moscow and Minsk describe the maneuvers as defensive, aimed at bolstering their security against potential external threats.
Major General Valery Revenko, assistant to the Belarusian defense minister, emphasized the event's openness to journalists.
He stated the drills pose no threat and promote constructive dialogue.
However, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk labeled the exercises "very aggressive," leading Poland to close its border with Belarus.
Minsk reacted sharply to this move.
The drills align with ongoing regional strains, including Russia's continued conflict in Ukraine and recent drone violations over Poland and Romania.
NATO deployed jets to down some incursions, while Moscow denied any intent to target Polish territory.
Such events have fueled concerns across Europe about deliberate testing of NATO's cohesion.
The U.S. officers' attendance signals evolving relations between Washington and Belarus, a key Russian partner that facilitated Moscow's troop deployment into Ukraine in February 2022.
Last week, John Coale, representing Trump, met with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk.
Lukashenko agreed to free 52 prisoners, among them journalists and opposition figures.
In exchange, the U.S. eased sanctions on Belavia, Belarus's national airline, enabling maintenance and procurement of parts for its Boeing-equipped fleet.
Coale indicated Trump's desire to soon reopen the U.S. embassy in Belarus, restore normal relations, and rejuvenate economic and trade links.
Trump, seeking to mediate an end to the Ukraine war, is fostering connections with Lukashenko, who frequently engages with Putin.
Coale delivered a personal, hand-signed letter from Trump to Lukashenko last week.
Both Russia and Belarus have lately pursued better engagement with the Trump administration, though ties with Europe stay tense.
The invitation to global media for Zapad-2025 underscores Minsk's transparency claims, yet the displays of military might may also serve as a cautionary signal to the West, particularly Europe, regarding the perils of confrontation with Moscow.