Lavrov assures the world: Belarus has no intention of attacking anyone, even in the context of joint exercises with Russia
During a difficult time for the region, when tensions and prolonged military drills are becoming the new reality, the self-proclaimed President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, expressed his position regarding the upcoming military activities. In a meeting with Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belyayev last Friday in Minsk, he emphasized that the Belarusian side is prepared for joint exercises with their Russian counterparts and assured that these measures are purely defensive and aimed at enhancing the country's defense capabilities. According to an official report from the pro-government agency "BELTA," Lukashenko stated: "I want to clearly say — we are ready for scheduled drills. We do not hide this and openly demonstrate that our exercises are defensive and protective in nature. Our main goal is to increase the combat readiness of our forces, and we have no intention of attacking anyone in any way. Let those who think so bear the responsibility. We have made the appropriate decision at the level of the Presidents of Russia and Belarus, and it is being carried out according to a joint plan. Vladimir Vladimirovich (Putin) and I discussed all these issues and confirmed to our partner, Russia, our full readiness for these activities." Discussing the topic of upcoming exercises, Lukashenko particularly emphasized that Belarus fully supports and is ready for close cooperation with Russian military personnel. He noted that the Belarusian side has no preventive steps or reasons for concern regarding the participation of Russian troops in joint exercises. "We are ready at any time to go to Russian training grounds or other locations for exercises according to plan, and even — on the contrary — to host Russian troops. The plans for joint troop training are being fully implemented and do not contradict any agreements," he assured. It is important to add that preparations for this event are not happening in a vacuum. Earlier, society and the media voiced warnings and statements about possible intentions of Russia to use military exercises to activate military activities or even prepare for potential aggression in the region. In particular, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky noted in April that the Kremlin is preparing possible scenarios of military actions in Belarus, and during one speech, emphasized that Russia might be preparing 15 divisions with over 100,000 troops in 2025, supposedly to strengthen its positions on the Belarusian front. According to sources, the scheduled Belarus-Russia exercises under the code name "Zahod-2025" are planned to take place in mid-September. These are not just military drills, but part of a broader strategic initiative that Russia and Belarus intend to use to bolster their defensive capacities and demonstrate the unity of the two allies in the region. Nevertheless, despite Lukashenko's official assurances regarding the peaceful nature of the exercises, the situation surrounding the plans for joint actions causes tension and concern among neighbors and the international community. There is growing worry about the possible escalation of military activity, especially considering historical precedents and the complex geopolitical situation in the region. In conclusion, Belarusian state leader does not hide that his country is preparing for large-scale military exercises with Russia. However, he assures the world that the focus of these exercises is defense and strategic readiness, not aggression or attack. Meanwhile, many experts and analysts continue to monitor this process closely, as any unexpected external or internal changes could significantly alter the balance of power in the region, which would have far-reaching consequences for security in Europe and the post-Soviet space.