The recent meeting in Minsk between Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka and commanders of force ministries, including border guards and the army, underscored the country's focus on bolstering its border security and military capabilities. The head of the State Border Committee of Belarus, Gen. Konstantin Molostov, reported on the successful completion of all orders and instructions issued by Lukashenka to the border services in 2023, noting that the situation along the border remains tense but predictable and controllable.
Belarus' strategic response includes intensifying efforts in electronic warfare. Chief of the General Staff of the Belarusian Armed Forces, Gen. Viktor Gulevich, mentioned the concentration of NATO air forces near the western border and directly referred to Poland's Operation Safe Podlasie. He highlighted the expansion of the "radar field" and the forces and means of radio-technical troops and electronic warfare (EWR) capabilities, which are essential for detecting and influencing enemy aircraft.
Gulevich also commented on the steady number of “provocations” in Belarusian airspace and the enhancement of their air force's capabilities to detect such incidents, thanks in part to new equipment and weapons, including those from Russia.
NATO Steadfast Defender 2024
These developments in Belarus occur in the backdrop of NATO's Steadfast Defender 2024 exercise, one of the largest military exercises in Europe since the Cold War, involving around 90,000 troops. The exercise is designed to practice the response to hypothetical aggression against a NATO member, activating Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.
The exercises, running through May, include more than 50 ships, over 80 aircraft, and at least 1,100 combat vehicles, demonstrating NATO's ability to rapidly deploy forces from North America and other parts of the alliance to reinforce the defense of Europe.
The second part of the Steadfast Defender exercise will focus on the deployment of NATO's quick reaction force to Poland. This highlights the strategic importance of Poland and the Baltic states, which are considered most at risk from a potential Russian attack. The exercises also involve training locations in Germany, Norway, and Romania, serving as a testing ground for new NATO defense plans designed to counter threats from Russia, including those involving strategic use of Belarus by Russia.
Source: PAP, IAR, RMF24
