{"id":121983,"date":"2025-01-16T13:41:52","date_gmt":"2025-01-16T10:41:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/121983\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"us-think-tank-russias-efforts-to-annex-belarus-threaten-us-nato-ukraine","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/121983\/","title":{"rendered":"US think tank: Russia’s efforts to annex Belarus threaten US, NATO, Ukraine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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January 16,<\/strong> Pozirk.<\/strong> <\/em>Moscow\u2019s ongoing efforts to annex Belarus pose strategic risks to the United States, NATO and Ukraine as well as “an existential threat to Belarus\u2019 continued existence as a sovereign state,” says a recent analysis by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Kremlin is currently completing its long-term strategic goal of de facto annexation of Belarus via the Union State as it wants to permanently enhance its military and economic potential to “pursue its revanchist geopolitical objectives against the United States and NATO,” the report stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ISW warned that Moscow will “leverage its recent but deep-rooted gains in Belarus to offset costs from Russia\u2019s protracted war against Ukraine, accelerate Russia\u2019s recovery following the war in Ukraine, and help Russia prepare for future wars more rapidly than Russia could by itself.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Policymakers must treat Belarus as a captive nation and extension of Russia, the analysts noted. The Kremlin is likely to exploit Belarus’ economic potential as well as its location on NATO\u2019s eastern flank, they added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Kremlin could use the upcoming presidential election in Belarus to secure additional integration concessions, the ISW said.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moscow’s dominance over Belarus would include “full operational and administrative control over Belarus\u2019 armed forces during peacetime and permanent Russian military basing in Belarus” along with political, economic and legislative superiority, the report said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2021, Minsk and Moscow signed 28 Union State programs focusing on macroeconomic, industrial and agricultural policies, tax and customs harmonization and a common energy market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few weeks ago, Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka and Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a security guarantees deal that provides for defending the Union State territory and border with \u201call available forces and means,\u201d including the use of Russian tactical nuclear weapons stationed in Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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