MINSK, 15 September (BelTA) – Belarus might produce a heavy-handed response to direct military threats coming from outside amidst the destabilization of the situation in the country, Chief of the International Military Cooperation Department, Aide to the Defense Minister for International Military Cooperation Major General Oleg Voinov said in an article posted on the website of the Defense Ministry, BelTA has learned.
“Among other things we do not rule out the use of force to respond to direct military threats within the framework of effective agreements of the Union State and the Collective Security Treaty Organization in the event of an open military aggression and a military conflict against Belarus,” Oleg Voinov said.
“This is becoming particularly relevant amidst the statements of some Polish military experts about a possibility of using force to support the regime change in Belarus, amidst a possibility of violating the territorial integrity of the state by cutting off Grodno Oblast,” he said.
The aide to the defense minister noted that on the one hand it sounds logical when partners say that Belarus did not see any threats to its military and political system before, but afterwards all of a sudden changed its attitude to the relocation and training of forces of western states near the Belarusian border.
“Indeed, the attitude has changed. Amidst the internal instability, the efforts of the neighboring states and other countries to destabilize the situation in our country, Belarus is changing its attitude to external factors. The things we did not view as a threat before, are acquiring a new meaning. After all, the increasing protest potential in Belarus allows predicting the respective training of Belarusians. And this will be detrimental to the existing government system and policy,” Oleg Voinov said.
He expressed confidence that the country will stand tall and pull through this difficult situation, protect its people and defend the country's interests.
