Belarus has reportedly intensified its military presence near the NATO border amidst escalating tensions between the coalition and Russia. According to a report in the Kyiv Post, the Belarusian military has “mobilized reservists and initiated major military maneuvers.”
The military movements include the deployment of tanks and infantry fighting vehicles. Witnesses have observed a train carrying troops and equipment arriving in a town within 15 miles of Lithuania’s border.
The Belarusian Ministry of Defense has confirmed the deployment of tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, coinciding with ongoing military exercises scheduled to continue until April 5. These exercises extend to regions near the Polish border, another NATO member country, and involve personnel movements and live-fire drills.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has accused Poland and the U.S. of planning provocations against Belarus and Russia. Additionally, Belarus recently announced that it received tactical nuclear weapons last year and modified its nuclear doctrine to allow the use of such weapons.
NATO is currently conducting Operation Steadfast Defender, its largest military exercise in decades, involving 90,000 troops from all member states. Russia has criticized the operation, alleging it is a pretext for a future NATO attack.
The increased Belarusian military presence near NATO borders has heightened concerns about escalating tensions between Russia and the alliance, particularly amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. International observers are closely monitoring the situation, with NATO member states expressing vigilance in response to the heightened military activity.
As tensions continue to rise, there are calls for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation and prevent further deterioration of relations between Russia, Belarus, and NATO. NATO maintains surveillance and readiness measures in response to the evolving security situation in Eastern Europe.
