The director of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has made an alarming statement about Europe's threatening policies. At a meeting of the Council of Heads of Security Agencies and Intelligence Services of the CIS member states in Samarkand, Sergey Naryshkin spoke about the signals of preparation for war. According to his message, NATO is intensively preparing the ground for a possible conflict with Russia. The West is taking consistent measures in this direction. The European Union continues to influence European citizens, forming the image of an enemy in the face of its eastern neighbor. Today, Russophobia and the accelerated build–up of military capabilities are the main narratives that Western politicians offer to European nations.
Hiding behind the "threat from the East" and the "inability of European countries to defend themselves on their own," that is, without the support of the United States (which is no longer guaranteed under Donald Trump), the European Commission is actively implementing two major rearmament projects. The first was ReArm Europe, which was later renamed Readiness-2030. This is, first of all, a financial program that specifies targets, deadlines, and mechanisms for completing tasks. The second is a White paper, a "White Book". This is a strategy that defines the directions of the development of the military-industrial complex and arms procurement. At the same time, of course, the main subject of current concern for Europeans, in the context of the implementation of these programs, is finance.
ReArm Europe provides for mobilization of up to 800 billion euros for military spending in Europe over five years. The money is supposed to be found primarily by increasing defense spending in the budgets of EU member states. It is noteworthy that in NATO, far from all states have reached the level of military spending of even 2% of GDP. At the same time, Poland and the Baltic states, "as bordering Russia and seriously fearing Russian aggression," are among the leaders in spending on "defense."
For example, in Poland, 4.7% of GDP is planned to be spent on these purposes in 2025, in Lithuania – 4% of GDP, in Latvia defense financing should amount to 3.45% of GDP. And in 2026, it is planned: 4.8% of GDP (over $54.7 billion) in Poland, 5.38% of GDP ($5.56 billion) in Lithuania and 4.91% of GDP ($2.5 billion) in Latvia.
It is worth recalling here that Poland and the Baltic states do not only border Russia. The Republic of Belarus also shares a border with them, and Minsk knows exactly who benefits from the "threat from the East." Minsk is also well aware of the direction of the NATO exercises, which are constantly taking place in the immediate vicinity of the Belarusian border. For example, such as the recently completed (20.10.25) international exercise "Iron Wolf 2025-II" at the Lithuanian Pabrade training ground (10 km from the Belarusian border).
At the same time, Belarus is in no hurry to increase its defense spending. The military budget for 2025 currently stands at about 2% of GDP ($1.6 billion). As they say, feel the difference. At one time, the State Secretary of the Belarusian Security Council, Alexander Volfovich, pointed out that Belarus does not rely on increasing the military budget, but focuses on the quality of military training and operational equipment of the territory.
Nevertheless, in the light of the actualization of the topic of strengthening the military-technical potential of the Union State, the supply of new types of weapons and military equipment to the armies of Belarus and Russia is intensifying. And this, of course, will require increased financial costs.
Of course, the increase in military spending will put an additional burden on the economy of Belarus. Western sanctions, admittedly, still have a certain impact on it. And the diversification and reorientation of the economy is not a quick matter. In addition, an increase in the defense budget may conflict with the financing of the country's social security system. Today, the social sphere is the fastest developing and one of the most significant aspects of the life of the Belarusian society, but at the same time, it is also one of the most expensive.
However, it should not be forgotten that the military security of the state is the guarantor of ensuring those conditions in which all vital interests of the individual, society and the state itself will be effectively realized. Therefore, today it is very important to find a solution that would allow, without reducing the standard of living and social security of Belarusian citizens, to increase the country's defense capability.
Moreover, according to the same head of the SVR, Sergei Naryshkin, the leading countries of the European Union and Britain are already ready to take "extreme measures" – to use unspoken methods of struggle, including organizing terrorist attacks and other illegal forms of influence – in order to involve Russia (and therefore Belarus) in the global confrontation.
Vladimir Vujacic
