Lithuanian Ministry of Defence: Russian military base in Belarus will hinder normalisation of relations with EU

A new Russian military base in Belarus will worsen the country's relations with Lithuania and hinder the normalisations of relations with NATO and the European Union.

The statement was made by Lithuanian minister of defence Juozas Olakas, Radio Svaboda reports.

“There's no doubt that a new Russian military base in Belarus will fuel tension in our region and have a negative impact on Lithuanian-Belarusian relations. It will also hinder Belarus's goal to normalise its relations with the EU and NATO,” Interfax news agency quotes Olekas as saying on September 21.

The Lithuanian defence minister made the statement, commenting on Russian president Vladimir Putin's instructions for the Russian defence ministry and foreign ministry to hold negotiations with Belarus on setting up an airbase.

Olekas drew attention to the fact that Minsk didn't make public comments on the issue yet.

After a meeting with Aliaksandr Lukashenka. in Sochi last week, Vladimir Putin ordered the Russian defence ministry and foreign ministry to hold talks with their Belarusian counterparts on opening an airbase.

Russia already has radio locators and a navy communication station in Belarus, the country that neighbours NATO members Lithuania, Latvia and Poland, as well as Ukraine. However, the planned object may become the first Russian military base in Belarus.

It was reported in 2014 that Russian fighters Su-27 would be stationed at the aerodrome near Babruisk. Su-27 aircraft already arrived at the airbase in Baranavichy. According to news reports of 2013, it is planned to station Russian aircraft at the aerodrome near Lida (Hrodna region).

Belarusian opposition has repeatedly spoken against setting up Russian airbases in Belarus.