Lukashenka blasts 'muscle show': No need in Russian airbase in Belarus, but we ready to protect Moscow
The Belarusian leader decided to draw a line under the discussion about the deployment of a Russian airbase in the territory of Belarus.
From the military point of view neither Belarus nor Russia needs a Russian airbase deployed in the Belarusian territory, Alyaksandr Lukashenka said at the conference for Belarusian army officers on Friday.
According to the head of state, there are on-duty air defense units in Belarus in time of peace, and these units include a Russian component. Every day Belarusian MiG-29 fighter jets and Russian Su-27 fighter jets stand by at the airfield in Baranovichi and ‘do their jobs to protect the state border in the air space, including for the sake of protecting the Russian Federation’, he said.
“We are not trying to hide the fact that if Belarus faces military aggression, which equals to aggression against Russia, the joint regional military group will be involved. It means that in addition to our armed forces, major forces of the Russian army, including a large number of Russian aircraft, will be deployed to Belarus in accordance with the plan,” state-run news agency BelTA quotes Alyaksandr Lukashenka as saying.
Belarusian airfields stand by to receive hundreds of aircraft, including those of the Russian Federation for the sake of ensuring the protection of Russia and Belarus, he said.
In his opinion, the deployment of a Russian airbase in Belarus would bring more disadvantages than advantages to Belarus and Russia:
“As the head of state I see no sense in getting involved in the muscle flexing game of our western and eastern neighbors. It is not the time for it. We don’t need it. It is necessary to take care of real defenses instead of showing off. We are ready for any projects with Russia in that regard.”
According to Lukashenka, Belarus has to primarily rely on its own forces as far as the counteraction of modern challenges and threats is concerned.
“Take a look around. No modern conflict has been started with the incursion of foreign armies into a country. Nowadays more refined means are used but the scenario always starts with efforts to destroy the country from within.This is why the key task is to ensure social and political stability inside the country. We have to prevent chaos and any destabilization of the situation,”
the Belarusian leader believes.
It is of high importance that Belarus keep the balance in relations with Moscow and Kyiv, he added.
Belsat.eu, via BelTA
