US think tank: Łukašenka plays up NATO threat to avoid sending troops to Ukraine

December 2, BPN. Alaksandr Łukašenka continues an information campaign to put it across that the Belarusian army must stay in Belarus to defend the country from potential NATO aggression, says a recent analysis by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Belarus allegedly managed to deter a potential enemy, Łukašenka told security officials at the December 1 meeting in Minsk. He accused NATO of building up forces in neighboring countries, blaming the bloc and Ukraine for provocations near the Belarus-Ukraine border, the analysts said.

The ISW also noted the remark by Defense Minister Viktar Chrenin that Belarus would only defend its territory in case of escalation.

The think tank pointed out that Belarus’ entry into Russia’s war on Ukraine is “extremely unlikely.”