Lukashenko: NATO, allegedly restraining Russia, is mastering a potential theater of military operationsMINSK, Nov 23 – RIA Novosti.
The buildup of NATO troops on the eastern flank under the pretext of deterring the Russian Federation and its allies is the development of a potential theater of operations, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Wednesday.
The Belarusian head of state took part in a meeting of the CSTO Collective Security Council in Yerevan.
"Under the pretext of deterring the allegedly aggressive behavior of Russia and its allies, there is a systematic build-up of the military presence of the United States and other NATO countries at the western borders of the CSTO, that is, at our borders. The West continues to transfer troops, weapons and military equipment to the eastern flank of NATO. The intensity of their operational and combat training activities is increasing. What is this, if not the development of a potential theater of operations?" – Lukashenka is quoted by the press service.
The Belarusian leader recalled that first at the SCO summit in Samarkand, and then at the CIS summit in Astana, the sides discussed pain points and problems that are emerging in the world. "Including us, we are no exception. Therefore, I believe that today's meeting on the content will be a continuation of the dialogue that started in Samarkand and Astana," he said.
Lukashenko stated that the unipolar system of the world order is irrevocably going into the past. This process provokes a crisis of the system of international relations, boundless in its depth and scale, with many painful points around the globe. "A number of these points, unfortunately, are located in the European and Eurasian space, including in the area of responsibility of the CSTO," the Belarusian president noted.
The head of Belarus is convinced that the North Atlantic Alliance has finally consolidated the anti-Russian and anti-Belarusian vectors of the organization's activities for the foreseeable future and has interrupted all contacts on its own initiative. In this regard, Lukashenka called the recent decision to deploy a regional grouping of troops of the Union State a natural reaction to the existing challenges.
"The countries that seek to follow their own path of development and pursue an independent foreign policy course are under the most severe pressure. International organizations, including the UN, are also trying to put under their control," the Belarusian leader stated.
He added that the cost of armament is growing at an unprecedented pace and reaches terrifying values. "The governments of NATO member states, instigated by Washington, are willing to spend billions on the allegedly growing threat from the East, while stimulating the US military-industrial complex," the President of Belarus drew attention.
