Belarus is experiencing the biggest deployment of Russian troops since the Cold War, NATO Secretary General says

February 3, BPN. Belarus is experiencing the biggest deployment of Russian troops since the Cold War, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at a press conference on February 3 following a meeting with Northern Macedonian Prime Minister Dimitar Kovačevski.

“We have discussed Russia’s continued military build-up in and around Ukraine, which is now well over 100,000 troops,” he said. “Over the last days we have seen a significant movement of Russian military forces into Belarus. This is the biggest Russian deployment there since the Cold War with an expected 30,000 combat troops [planned to be concentrated in Belarus], special operations forces, SU-35 fighter jets, dual capable Iskander missiles (which can be equipped with warheads, including nuclear ones – BPN), and S-400 air defence systems.”

Stoltenberg noted that NATO continued to call on Russia to de-escalate the situation around Ukraine and warned that “any further Russian aggression would have severe consequences, and carry a heavy price.”

“We remain ready to engage in meaningful dialogue and have conveyed our written proposals to Russia. Allies are prepared to discuss NATO-Russia relations, how to reduce risks and increase transparency, and arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation. But NATO will not compromise on core principles – the right of every nation to choose its own path, and NATO’s ability to protect and defend all Allies,” the Secretary General stressed.

As previously reported, the inspection of the Union State response forces started on February 1. Its second stage includes military exercise Union Resolve 2022 that is planned to take place on the territory of Belarus from February 10 to February 20.

In recent weeks, Russia has been actively moving troops and military equipment into Belarus, involved in the inspection of the response forces. A division of Pantsir-S surface-to-air missile systems, Su-35S multirole fighters, and the S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile system have already been deployed.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at a meeting with senior military personnel on 1 February that “the number of participants in the manoeuvres and major weapon systems does not exceed the parameters set out in the Vienna Document 2011.” This document obliges countries to report exercises involving at least 9,000 people, 250 tanks, 250 self-propelled and towed artillery pieces, mortars and multiple rocket launchers, and 500 armoured combat vehicles.

Earlier, the US Department of State voiced fears that Russia might use troops stationed in Belarus to attack Ukraine from the north. Its representative Ned Price stated that Belarusian authorities have been warned of the consequences should Minsk be in any way involved in Russian aggression against Ukraine.

At a meeting with Shoigu in Minsk on February 3, Aliaksandr Lukašenka announced that the main objectives of the Union Resolve 2022 exercise were to train Belarusian troops in the use of Russian equipment and to help strengthen the border with Ukraine.