Strategic deterrence system seen as key part of Belarus' new national security concept

MINSK, 4 May (BelTA) - The strategic deterrence system is an important component of the updated concept of Belarus' national security, First Deputy State Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus Pavel Muraveiko told the media, BelTA has learned.

On 3 May the Research Institute of the Armed Forces of Belarus hosted a regular discussion of the national security concept draft. The event was attended by Pavel Muraveiko, as well as Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces - First Deputy Defense Minister Viktor Gulevich.

Pavel Muraveiko reported on the changes to the strategic planning document given new challenges and threats. “You can see for yourselves how acute the situation in the world is today. Global geopolitical tensions, the inability of international organizations to ensure strategic stability in the face of new challenges, another round of the arms race, the threat of the development of biological weapons and the risks of their uncontrolled spread - this is by no means a complete list of the negative trends affecting international and regional security today. All of them are reflected in the updated concept,” Pavel Muraveiko said.

In his words, Belarus' national interests have been defined taking into account the changes taking place, including the inclusion of some new ones: “In particular, for the first time strategic national interests include the comprehensive protection of the people of Belarus as a unique historical community and the only source of state power. In addition, the concept specifies goals, objectives and principles of national security, elaborates the main directions of neutralizing the internal sources of threats and protection from external threats to national security. The document also describes the algorithm of the functioning of the system to ensure national security within the framework of the anti-crisis response.

Pavel Muraveiko told the media that the participants of the discussion were primarily interested in innovations in the military sector, where special emphasis was placed on the preservation of stability, implementation of measures within the strategic deterrence system, readiness of citizens to defend the Fatherland.

“The list of indicators for evaluating the state of national security across the entire spectrum of risks, challenges, and threats, including those in the military sector, has been revised. The state of the military and political situation, the readiness of the military organization of the state to carry out tasks to ensure military security, as well as the level of military power of the country will become determinative,” the first deputy state secretary of the Security Council said.