29 March 2024, Friday, 12:24
Support
the website
Sim Sim,
Charter 97!
Categories

What For Is Belarus Purchasing Russian Iskanders?

29
What For Is Belarus Purchasing Russian Iskanders?

The deal will cause a diplomatic scandal: the missiles cover the territory of Poland, the Baltic countries and half of Slovakia.

Belarus has decided to get to grips with the army’s rearmament. The discussion of the contract on purchasing twelve Su-30 SM fighters by Belarusians had not been abated in the media yet, and the Belarusian ambassador to Russia Ihar Piatryshenka announced the possibility of buying anti-aircraft systems S-400 and tactical missile systems Iskander in the future.

Rumors about the fact that Russia wants to deploy Iskanders in Belarus have been circulating for more than 10 years, the Belsat report says.

Last year, Russia deployed Iskander missile systems in Kaliningrad region. European politicians unanimously treated that as intimidation. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said then that the Kremlin's decision would not go unanswered.

Iskander is an offensive weapon of a preemptive strike, that is, of an attack. These missiles do not comply with what is written in the Belarusian military doctrine. And even if we look at them through the prism of the "union state" defense strategy, the Iskanders are not beneficial for the country. The missiles that are already deployed in Kaliningrad cover the same territory as potential missiles in Belarus. That is 80% of the territory of Poland, a piece of the Czech Republic, half of Slovakia, the whole of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Why does Minsk consciously become a scarecrow for its European neighbors?

"In relations with Russia, this will mean even greater military dependence and dependence on technology. De facto, this means a more extensive Russian presence, as this equipment will be maintained by them. In relations with the European Union, a diplomatic scandal can erupt. The decision to buy such weapons cannot be called a friendly one," – Yury Hubarevich, the For Freedom movement leader, believes.

If Belarus still decides to arm itself with these missiles, Uladzimir Makei's department will get in a most difficult situation. It's not an easy matter to negotiate with Europe about good relations and joint projects, holding the interlocutor at the end of a gun.

Write your comment 29

Follow Charter97.org social media accounts