The Belarusian armed forces pointed specifically to "Ukrainian provocation" as a key reason to hold the drills. Vladimir Kupriyanyuk, the deputy head of the general staff of the military, said the exercises are a response to the "West's aggressive foreign policy towards Belarus" and to "Ukrainian provocation."

Alarmingly, the maneuvers dubbed 'Eagle Assault' are not just a single day or two-day drill, but are slated to last eleven days, until July 19. The drills are being staged near the city of Brest on the Belarus-Poland border, and which is some 40 miles from the Belarusian border with Ukraine to the south.

"As part of the anti-terrorist exercises, the military personnel of both countries will work out the issues of night landing, overcoming water obstacles, and conducting operations in [urban settings]," the Belarusian defense ministry announced on Telegram.

The statement called out NATO's growing involvement in Ukraine specifically: "The NATO grouping on the border with Belarus is growing rapidly, which leads to an increase in tension in the region," stated a follow-up post. It additionally warned of "harsh reaction" should any external forces "cross Belarusian borders."

Poland's Defense Ministry responded by saying that a big focus of the NATO summit in Washington this week will be addressing the "hybrid war ongoing on the Poland-Belarus border, as well as on the Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian borders."

All of this is also happening while Russia has stationed tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, which it calls a 'Union State' based on their close defensive partnership (and historic treaty) and ongoing cooperation regarding Ukraine.

As for China's explanation, its defense ministry said Sunday the drills are primarily 'anti-terrorism' in nature, to include "hostage rescue operations and counter-terrorism missions."