For the first time: Belarus, Russia military sign five-year strategic partnership program

The defence ministries of Belarus and Russia signed a five-year strategic partnership program, Aleh Voinau, Head of the International Military Cooperation Department, said on Tuesday.

“It is the first time the defence ministries of Belarus and Russia have signed a strategic partnership program for a period of five years. The program will allow making clear-cut future plans and advancing Belarus’ cooperation with the Russian Federation,” state-run news agency BelTA quotes him.

Russia remains a strategic ally for Belarus, including in military affairs, Voinau stressed. However, the senior officer failed to provide any details about the program or explain whether it would bring about any fundamental change.

In late February, Aleh Voinau told the military attaches accredited at the Defence Ministry that the Belarusian side had to ‘reassess the military and political situation’ on the back of certain countries’ ‘politicised’ reaction to the outcome of the 2020 presidential election in Belarus.

As reported earlier, at today’s meeting to discuss Belarus-Russia cooperation in the military sector, Alyaksandr Lukashenka gave more information about his recent talks with Russian president Vladimir Putin.

According to him, Belarus and Russia are going to continue their activities as part of the joint army group. During his visit to Sochi, Lukashenka called the Russian army ‘one of the strongest armies in the world’ and suggested that Belarusian soldiers could adopt the best practices and methods and handle cutting-edge military equipment together with their Russian colleagues.

“The Russian leader got enthusiastic about the idea,” the politician added.

belsat.eu, following BelTA