Russia, Belarus commit to strengthening military cooperation

By Serdar Dincel

ISTANBUL (AA) - Moscow and Minsk on Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing military cooperation as Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov visited Belarus for a joint defense ministry meeting.

"Today, we continue to actively strengthen the military cooperation between our countries, which is especially crucial amid the overt pressure from the collective West and NATO's hostile activities near the borders of the Union State," Belousov said during his meeting with Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin, referring to a Russia-Belarus alliance formed in 1999.

Belousov highlighted that the West's growing involvement in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war poses international risks, warning that attempts to inflict "maximum damage" on Moscow could lead to direct military clashes between nuclear powers. "We cannot but respond to these threats," he added, noting that the current military and political landscape requires a reassessment of Russia's nuclear deterrence policies to align with "the new reality."

Belarus is Russia's chief ally in the war, which began in February 2022, over 2 1/2 years ago.

He mentioned that this reassessment includes the potential use of nuclear weapons in response to aggression against Belarus, given its status as a member of the Union State alliance.

Russia and Belarus, formally united as a Union State, have been in talks for years to deepen their integration, a process that has accelerated in recent years.

Khrenin stated that both nations would maintain and develop their level of cooperation during this "difficult period of global confrontation between the West and the East." He also announced that preparations for a military exercise in 2025 are underway, which will "create conditions for further improvement of the ensuring military security system of the Union State."