Belarus, Russia to create ‘military organization’ for armed defense of Union State - Shoigu


Russia and Belarus will create a ‘military organisation’ for the armed defense of the Union State, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told reporters on Wednesday after a joint collegium meeting of the two countries’ defense ministries.

“We have approved [at the collegium meeting] the plan of joint activities for 2016-2018 that is aimed at formation of a military organization of the Union State, the establishment of a reliable mechanism for its armed defense,” Russian news agency TAS quotes Shoigu as saying.

According to the minister, the collegium also discussed implementation of the agreement on joint guarding of the external borders and combat duty within the framework of the Unified Regional Air Defense System in Belarus

Shoigu separately addressed the issue of the improvement of the joint radio-electronic warfare system. “The necessary regulatory framework for this has been formed, and its functioning will ensure efficient use of the electronic warfare assets of our countries’ armed forces,” the Russian minister told his Belarusian counterpart Andrey Raukou.

In his opinion, the two countries need not just a high level of cooperation between the defense departments, but a ‘coordinated approach’ that will allow them to successfully strengthen the Union State’s defense capability. At the same time, Shoigu could not help mentioning Ukraine:

“This approach is relevant right now, in a difficult military and political situation in the world when sources of instability have come very close to the borders of our countries. Ukraine is a graphic example.”

The Russian minister also noted that military security of Russia and Belarus depends on the developments in Ukraine, and it is important to implement the Minsk agreements.

www.belsat.eu/en/, via TASS

TWITTER