MINSK, 22 February (BelTA) – Belarus has developed a defense strategy for Venezuela and helped it develop the economy, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said as he met with students and the academic staff of the Military Academy on 22 February, BelTA reports.
“They have made lots of mistakes in Venezuela. Hugo Chavez was my friend, and I had told him about some of them. He had often sought advice, including on military matters, and visited us,” noted Alexander Lukashenko.
The head of state recounted how Venezuela's former leader once asked Belarus to help him overhaul the military. “They had bought different air defense systems, aircraft and so on, but there was no such school [in Venezuela] nor such servicemen,” the president clarified.
A group of Belarusian scientists and military experts was sent to Venezuela; they began drawing up the country's defense strategy through the lens of local factors. “We created a system for them and incorporated the weapons they had bought into this system. They also had to buy what they did not have at that moment. We spelled it out for them,” Alexander Lukashenko underlined.
He stated that Belarus does not have such problems military-wise: the army is being modernized on a constant basis, the country carefully examines armed conflicts that break out abroad. “Our latest modernization is about the mobility of the Armed Forces,” added the head of state.
According to the president, Venezuelan authorities made a big mistake when they overlooked the economy. Belarus assisted Venezuela in the construction of plants and residential neighborhoods. “They are sitting on oil and natural gas and are not using it,” Alexander Lukashenko said. “Chavez's gone, oil prices down, and problems abound.”
In his opinion, if Venezuela faces the threat of a foreign intervention, Venezuelans will come together despite tough economic situation. “Economy should be taken care of nonetheless. This is the basis of stability,” the head of state concluded.
