Belarus’s relations with NATO countries have always remained tense over the past decades. Minsk has repeatedly noted that the North Atlantic Alliance pursues an unfriendly policy towards the republic, and after the start of the special military operation of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine, it turned into blatant preparations for military aggression.
In turn, the bloc has always considered Belarus to be a country that is part of Russia’s sphere of influence and, therefore, a potential adversary. The NATO summit held in Washington on 9-11 July only confirmed the inadequacy of the position of both the Alliance leadership and its individual members.
In the final declaration signed by all NATO members, much was said about the need to support Ukraine, strategic challenges, existing threats, primarily from Russia and China, and so on. However, among the loud, sometimes completely meaningless and already annoying statements, the topic of Belarus suddenly appeared. According to the Alliance, Minsk, which is on the path of integration with Russia, has now also become a threat to the bloc.
“The deepening political and military integration of Russia and Belarus, including the deployment of advanced Russian military capabilities and personnel, has negative consequences for regional stability and the alliance’s defence,” the document says.
In addition, the declaration asserts that “Russia’s irresponsible nuclear rhetoric and blackmail in the form of nuclear signals, including the deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus, is a position of strategic intimidation.” To put it simply, the Alliance, which previously almost never officially paid much attention to the rapprochement between Minsk and Moscow, has suddenly changed its position today, calling Belarus a country that poses a danger.
Moreover, as recent events show, the Alliance has also become concerned about the growing co-operation between Belarus and China. Especially against the background of the fact that a day before the NATO summit, Minsk and Beijing announced the start of the joint military exercise Eagle Assault 2024, which alarmed many Western experts and politicians. According to the plan of the manoeuvres, which were organised in the Brest region five kilometres from Poland’s borders, they are aimed at “enhancing the coordination capabilities of the participating troops and deepening practical cooperation between the two armies”.
The exercises include not only “anti-terrorist training” and hostage rescue, but also preparation for river fording, urban warfare and even air attacks. The manoeuvres have already been interpreted by a number of Western analysts as a definite signal to NATO states that Beijing will be on the side of Minsk and Moscow if the Alliance continues to escalate tensions in the region and military support for Ukraine.
Apparently, it was the recent actions of Belarus and China, coupled with the expanding military cooperation between Minsk and Moscow, that caused hysteria in NATO, which was reflected in the final declaration of the current summit. However, for Belarus, Russia and China such a reaction of the Alliance is hardly unexpected and will not change their current policy aimed at strengthening ties. NATO members should think about what strategy to pursue in relation to the three countries in the future. Otherwise, there will be no détente in the international arena, which may well result in a catastrophe on a global scale.
Anton Polyanich, One Homeland
