GRODNO, 20 October (BelTA) - Troops and forces of third countries are drilling a number of likely actions near the Belarusian borders, Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said as he met with the staff of Grodno Azot and ideologists of Grodno organizations to brief them on ongoing military and political developments in Belarus and abroad, BelTA has learned.
"Despite the absence of clear signs of direct preparation for an imminent aggression, the danger of a possible use of the troops deployed near our borders remains in place. Confirmation of this is the unprecedented build-up of U.S. and NATO troops and formations in the Eastern European region, including on the territory of the states adjacent to our country under the pseudo-banner of protection from the threat from the East," Viktor Khrenin said.
"We see troops and forces of third countries drilling a number of likely actions near our borders. More than 60,000 U.S. troops equipped with modern strike weapons are stationed in Europe on a permanent basis, plus about 35,000 within the framework of ongoing operations in Eastern Europe. Of which more than 22,000 are deployed in Poland and the Baltic states," the minister said.
"In addition to the land force, there are aviation and naval groups in the European zone. They already now number more than 2,200. In the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea there are constantly up to 10 carriers of sea- and air-based cruise missiles with a total ammunition of up to 450 pieces. In the event of military aggression by the West, these aircraft and ships will be able to strike at our facilities and troops to the entire depth of the territory of Belarus," Viktor Khrenin said.
The flights of U.S. aviation are a demonstration of military force and the threat of the use of air attack weapons. In general, today we estimate that the NATO formations deployed in neighboring countries can become the core of strike groups against Belarus and Russia, he added.
