Kathrine Frich
He delivered this message during a security meeting in Moscow
When political lines on a map become increasingly tense, the words spoken behind closed doors suddenly carry much more weight.
For years, neighboring countries have watched each other with quiet caution. Now, top military figures are speaking out, and their warnings are growing louder by the day.
Echoes of a clash
The defense minister of Belarus has issued a stark warning about the future of Europe. Viktor Khrenin claims the threat of a major war is peaking.
He delivered this message during a security meeting in Moscow, according to a report by The Moscow Times cited by Onet.
“Assessing the current situation in the Eastern European region, we conclude that the probability of an armed conflict breaking out between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), as well as the possibility of its subsequent transformation from a regional to a global conflict, is extremely high,” Khrenin said.
The minister pointed directly at the movement of foreign troops. Roughly 21,000 NATO soldiers are stationed across Poland and the Baltic states.
Blaming the West
For Belarus and Russia, this heavy troop presence looks like active preparation for a direct fight. Khrenin suggested that record military spending by the bloc proves they want a confrontation.
“Western political elites and their affiliated arms corporations view war as a guarantee of internal consolidation and stable profits,” he stated.
Across the border, defense officials are not taking any chances. European leaders recently told The Wall Street Journal a Russian strike on allied soil could happen within twelve months.
In response, military planners are speeding up their defense timelines. They recently ran war simulations that included a hypothetical Russian attack launched from Belarusian land.
Preparing for the worst
Political moves in Moscow are adding to the tension. Late last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a new law allowing the use of military force to “protect” citizens living abroad.
At the same time, Russian officials accused Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia of running a “criminal policy of repression and intimidation” against ethnic Russians.
The situation is equally tense in Minsk. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko declared in April that his nation was gearing up for combat. He warned that “there can be no talk of peacetime.”
To back up those words, Belarus recently took part in large-scale nuclear exercises alongside Russia. Putin has already moved tactical nuclear weapons and advanced missile systems into Belarusian territory, according to The Moscow Times.
Sources: The Moscow Times, The Wall Street Journal, Onet
