Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has cited the buildup of NATO forces in Eastern Europe and the rapid militarization of the region

Belarus, Russia's key ally in Eastern Europe, will inevitably have to strengthen its defense capabilities in light of NATO's hostile actions on its Western borders, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said.

Following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, the military bloc has been establishing new units and boosting the forward presence of its forces near the Russian and Belarusian borders. Multiple NATO member states have concurrently launched massive military buildups, citing a perceived Russian threat. Moscow has denied harboring any aggressive intentions toward its Western neighbors.

Speaking on Tuesday, Lukashenko stated that "whether we like it or not... we will have to strengthen our defense capabilities."

"The buildup of the military component on our borders, especially by Poland, is not merely of concern to us," the Belarusian president said, noting that "people are not spending money on tanks and munition for no reason."

A day earlier, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) said that NGOs from the US, the UK, Germany, Poland, and other European countries are "building up assets to again attempt to destabilize the situation and change the constitutional order in Belarus." According to the agency, a new wave of anti-government protests could be timed to coincide with the 2030 presidential elections.

Back in 2020, an attempt to overturn the results of the presidential elections led to violent clashes throughout Belarus, but order was eventually restored.

Late last year, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin characterized the situation on Belarus' western borders as "tense."

"The actions of the leaders of neighboring countries also indicate - and they don't hide it - that preparations for war are underway," the lieutenant general said at the time. He added that NATO nations' commitment to allocating 5% of their GDP to their militaries "already suggests that this is a pre-war budget."

Commenting on the deployment of nuclear-capable, medium-range hypersonic Russian Oreshnik missiles to Belarus, Khrenin said that the move was meant as a strategic deterrent against NATO's "aggressive" steps.

(RT.com)