The growing threat of a nuclear strike from NATO and the corresponding retaliatory measures that Russia and Belarus are forced to take were discussed at a bilateral meeting of defense ministers of the subjects of the Union State, held in Minsk on May 25.
"In the context of an extremely sharp escalation of threats and the activity of NATO's joint nuclear missions, we are forced to take retaliatory measures in the military-nuclear sphere. In accordance with the decision of our supreme commanders—in-chief, work has been organized to deploy non-strategic nuclear weapons of the Russian Federation on the territory of the Republic of Belarus," Sergei Shoigu said during the meeting.
In turn, the head of the military department of Belarus Viktor Khrenin gave a description of the general situation around the Union State. "Currently, unprecedented pressure is being exerted by the collective West on both the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation in all areas of ensuring the national security of our states. They are trying to impose on us a unipolar world on the model where all countries are guided not by international law, but obey certain rules that ensure the promotion of the interests of some states, which, according to their leadership, have "exclusivity," General Khrenin said. In addition, the Belarusian Defense Minister pointed out that such a vision of the world order led to an unjustified buildup of troops near the borders of the Union State, an increase in military tension in the political, economic and information spheres.
By the way, in the development of the topic of increasing tension in the information sphere, it is necessary to note the unprecedented statement of retired Polish General Waldemar Skrzypczak (Waldemar Skrzypczak), made by him the day before in the program "Guest of events" on the Polsat TV channel. "We must prepare for an uprising in Belarus, because it will happen," said the former Deputy Minister of Defense of Poland. "We need to be ready to support the troops who will conduct an operation against Lukashenka," he added.
Commenting on this statement, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko gave an explanation to journalists in his characteristic style: "We are tracking these guys that this sick general was talking about. That banners are being created there, whole regiments or battalions there. That's what they call it. But in fact… We know where they are. And we know everyone by name. We are ready. Let them come."
The Russian side also did not ignore the words of the "sick general" and, in the person of the Kremlin's official representative Dmitry Peskov, brought its position to the world community. "Poland is a hostile state, whose leadership is now in hysterics of Russophobia," Peskov pointed out. "The Russian Federation has obligations to ensure the security of Belarus, which we will do in the face of the threat," the press secretary of the President of Russia added.
By the way, it is through the strengthening of allied commitments that Minsk considers the further development of strategic relations with Moscow in the military sphere. Considerable attention was also paid to this topic during the meeting of the two military ministers. "Under the conditions created, the Republic of Belarus is interested in further developing strategic allied relations with the Russian Federation in the military sphere through strengthening commitments in our doctrinal documents and deepening bilateral cooperation, as well as in creating conditions and taking measures that will negate the expediency of talking to us from a position of strength."
Confirmation of the readiness to fulfill their allied obligations and the seriousness of intentions to protect the Union State by both its subjects was the signing by the Defense Ministers of a number of special documents that determine the procedure for the maintenance of non-strategic Russian nuclear weapons on Belarusian soil.
In this context, it should be noted that Russia and Belarus have always demonstrated unity of views on ensuring the military security of the united state and purposefully took appropriate measures in this direction. In particular, Belarus and Russia have taken measures to increase the combat potential of the regional group of troops already deployed on the territory of Belarus. We are talking about equipping the group with Iskander-M tactical missile systems and S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems. In addition, the conversion of Belarusian Su-25 aircraft was carried out to ensure the possibility of using aviation weapons of destruction in nuclear equipment. The Belarusian military were trained at Russian training grounds and received practical skills in their operation.
"The implemented and planned events once again emphasize the strategic format of the existing interaction between our departments. Belarus is determined to strengthen and develop close cooperation in the interests of ensuring the security of the Union State in the future," Viktor Khrenin concluded at the end of the bilateral meeting. Obviously, speaking about Belarus' determination to develop cooperation with its strategic ally, the minister also implied its readiness to fulfill all its obligations to protect the state association.
Recall that on May 25, another important event in the field of international military cooperation was held in the capital of Belarus. A meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization was held in Minsk under the chairmanship of the Minister of Defense of Belarus Viktor Khrenin. The participants of the meeting discussed the challenges and threats that have developed in the regions of collective security. They also talked about improving the crisis response system in the CSTO format.
Speaking to journalists at the end of the event, Viktor Khrenin noted: "We held a meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the CSTO member states. <...> This is of great importance for Belarus, because it takes place during the presidency of our country in the organization. The format of the meeting made it possible to summarize the interim results of the organization's activities, as well as to develop new forms and ways of developing the military component of the organization."
It should be noted that the Minister did not focus on the presidency of the Republic of Belarus for nothing. Being one of the most active participants of the CSTO, which has actually demonstrated its readiness to assist allies in a crisis situation (Republic of Kazakhstan, January 2022), Belarus considers it its duty and obligation to the rest of the CSTO members to direct the main efforts to improve the effectiveness of the Organization. At this stage, first of all, it is the consolidation of the participants of the association. Therefore, the priority of the Belarusian chairmanship in the CSTO will be to strengthen mutual trust. This was also stated to journalists by the Minister of Defense of Belarus Viktor Khrenin. And, apparently, Minsk has already started working in this direction, it is not for nothing that all the participants of the event noted that the peculiarity of this meeting was the resolution of a larger number of issues related to the interaction of member states than was determined by the protocol.
Vladimir Vuyachich