Khrenin: Belarus Poses No Threat to the West
Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin has stated that there is “no threat whatsoever” emanating from Belarus towards the West. However, according to him, Belarusian military personnel are “conducting reconnaissance, assessing, monitoring, reacting and planning their actions” based on the steps taken by their western neighbours.
The head of the Belarusian defence ministry made the comments on the state TV channel, addressing the withdrawal of neighbouring countries – Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, and also Estonia – from the Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines (the Ottawa Treaty). Among other things, this allows them to mine the border with Belarus if necessary.
According to Khrenin, such actions and decisions by neighbouring countries «cannot be underestimated». The Defence Minister is convinced that beneath any actions that are «loudly publicised in the media», there is always some kind of «hidden subtext».
«There are some plans somewhere, or something else. We must be ready for anything. That is why our reaction is calm, but wary and attentive,» Khrenin stated.
At the same time, he categorically stated that Belarus itself poses no threat whatsoever to its neighbouring countries.
«There can be no complacency, no relaxation. We are conducting reconnaissance, assessing, monitoring, reacting, and planning our actions. But we pose no threat to them,» the defence minister emphasised.
As a reminder, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Estonia officially announced their withdrawal from the Ottawa Treaty in March of last year. Lithuania’s defence ministry explained the move by citing the growth of «military threats» in recent years, with a similar statement issued by Poland’s Ministry of National Defence.
Польша, Литва, Латвия и Эстония вышли из Оттавского договора. Что это значит?