Lithuanian presidential aide: NATO intel has no indications that Zapad will pose threat

VILNIUS - NATO intelligence has no indications that the Zapad military exercise to be held by Russia and Belarus in fall will pose a threat to the Alliance, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda's chief national security adviser has said.

"So far, NATO intelligence has no indications that the Zapad exercise will be a large-scale exercise that could pose a threat," Deividas Matulionis told the Ziniu Radijas on Tuesday.

According to him, the data indicates that the exercise will be limited in scope, and during the exercise, NATO allies will also demonstrate their will to "ensure the deterrence and defense of our territory" through their actions in the region.

"Therefore, there is no need to dramatize, but the situation is being monitored," the presidential adviser said.

Matulionis, Lithuania's former ambassador to NATO, began his new role as Nauseda's chief adviser on national security on Monday.

The Zapad exercise, which has been held every two years since 2009, is scheduled to take place in September.