On Monday, April 10, a meeting was held between President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who arrived in Minsk, fulfilling the agreements previously reached by the heads of the two states. The Belarusian leader noted this in his welcoming remarks. "When we parted after the last talks with Vladimir Vladimirovich, we agreed that you and your specialists would come to Belarus, and we would sit down with you and discuss Belarus' security issues. You know, I have already raised this issue at the HCV (meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State – editor's note). But before that, we discussed this issue with Vladimir Vladimirovich," Alexander Lukashenko said at the beginning of the meeting.
It should be noted that throughout its existence as a sovereign State, the Republic of Belarus has strictly followed the letter of the law in the field of international law, and, accordingly, counted on a similar attitude from other States to this issue. Nevertheless, it remains only to state that the previously existing systems of regulating international relations and ensuring security have completely degraded, and primarily due to the fault of the countries of the collective West. This was pointed out by the Belarusian president in an interview with Sergei Shoigu. He noted that Western countries are not fulfilling the agreements on security guarantees that were given under the Budapest Memorandum in exchange for the withdrawal of nuclear weapons from the territories of the former republics of the Soviet Union. "Sometime after 1994, the famous Budapest Memorandum, where all Western powers and Russia swore to provide full security to Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Belarus. Naturally, you know that Western states have trampled on all these treaties, agreements and statements, and there is no security. Economic security, among other things, was meant. Well, what is economic security if they impose sanctions against us and Russia?! – Alexander Lukashenko reminded.
Recognizing this fact, the Belarusian head of state is well aware that the Budapest Memorandum is just another step, as well as the proposals for ensuring Russia's security guarantees, which she sent to NATO and the United States (January 2022), and which the collective West stepped over without hesitation. It is worth saying that during the conversation, President Lukashenko repeatedly pointed out the treachery of the "leadership" of the collective West. "Well, what security guarantees can America provide us with? Yes, none. In addition to spurring aggression against us, as we see now," the Belarusian leader stressed once again.
Therefore, it is natural that Belarus, as Russia's only strategic ally in the West, turns to it for real guarantees. "That's why I raised this issue in negotiations with the President of Russia. He absolutely supported me in all directions. And, he says, we need to review all our treaties and agreements – Belarus and Russia – to see what kind of regulatory legal act of an interstate nature should be adopted now to ensure the complete security of Belarus," Alexander Lukashenko stressed.
It would be appropriate to assume that the raised issue of legally formalized guarantees has a more political character, since, judging by the practical actions of the two subjects of the Union State, both sides fulfill their allied obligations within the framework of its protection flawlessly.
Thus, a regional grouping of troops has been deployed on the territory of Belarus since October last year. Every day, joint classes are held with Belarusian and Russian military personnel from its composition in order to increase the readiness of the RGV to effectively perform tasks for their intended purpose. This topic was also touched upon during the conversation between Lukashenko and Shoigu. "We cook as it should be. Because we shouldn't relax here. You can see that the Poles and Lithuanians have started moving in our direction here. Therefore, this is a good help and support for the Belarusian army, which protects the Union State on the western flank," the President of Belarus assured the interlocutor.
In this context, it should be recalled that in the practical plane there is a solution to the issue of the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in the warehouses of the Belarusian army. The Belarusian Air Force already has a squadron of Su-25s upgraded at the enterprises of the Russian military industry to the level of nuclear weapons carriers, the flight crew of these combat aircraft is improving their training. On February 1, 2023, Belarusian rocket scientists began independent operation of the Iskander-M tactical complex, transferred by the Russian Federation.
Also, on April 3, on behalf of the head of state, a check of the combat readiness of the armed forces of the Republic of Belarus has been launched. As stated by the Secretary of State of the Security Council Alexander Volfovich, "the inspection will include a full range of measures related to the transfer of the compound from peacetime to wartime, the conscription of military service, the supply of weapons, the release of the compound to the landfills to perform tasks for their intended purpose." "The inspection will be of a long–term nature, and will affect various polygons and terrain areas," General Volfovich added.
In addition, designated formations and military units of the operational commands of the Belarusian armed forces are on duty near the western and north-western borders, while Special Operations Forces have strengthened security on the southern borders, thereby reliably covering the rear of the grouping of Russian troops participating in the SVO.
In general, the complex of measures already taken and being taken allows Belarus to believe that it is ready to fulfill its main mission – an advanced outpost on the western borders of the Union State. At the same time, it is very important to know that there is an equally reliable ally nearby.
Vladimir Vuyachich
