MWE Correspondent
Russian President Vladimir Putin has met with foreign military attachés attending the Center-2026 strategic military exercises, expressing hope that military cooperation between Russia and participating countries will continue.
Putin held the meeting on October 2 at the Chebarkulsky training ground in Russia’s Chelyabinsk Region, where he observed the final phase of the large-scale military exercises.
“We are always waiting for you to work together and are simply glad to see you in Russia,” Putin told the foreign military representatives, according to Russian state media reports. He also expressed hope that cooperation between the military attachés would continue.
Center-2026, which began on September 28 and runs through October 3, involves more than 47,000 Russian military personnel, according to Russian and international reports. The exercises are being conducted alongside the Interaction-2026 command-post drills organized under the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
Foreign military contingents participating in the exercises include forces from Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, China, Mongolia and Pakistan. Military delegations from dozens of other countries have also attended as observers, with Putin saying representatives from 55 countries were present during the drills.
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The Russian president said the exercises were designed to strengthen the ability of participating forces to respond to external security threats. During his visit to the training ground, Putin inspected military equipment and observed troops conducting the final phase of the exercises.
The drills come amid heightened tensions between Russia and Western countries, particularly over the war in Ukraine and broader disputes involving NATO. Putin’s appearance at Center-2026 therefore provided an opportunity for Moscow to demonstrate military cooperation with Russia’s partners while hosting foreign military representatives.
Russian officials have described the exercises as part of efforts to improve coordination and interoperability among participating forces. The presence of foreign troops and military observers has also highlighted Moscow’s continued military relationships with countries outside the Western alliance system.
Putin’s meeting with the military attachés underscores the diplomatic dimension of Center-2026, with Russia seeking continued military-to-military contacts even as tensions with Western governments remain high.
