Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, NATO has made a significant deployment of forces near Belarus. This move is likely to escalate tensions and expand the scope of the conflict. Belarus, a staunch ally of Russia, finds itself in a critical position due to its geographical proximity to Ukraine, Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania.
According to Pavel Muravienko, the Chief of the Belarusian Army and Deputy Defense Minister, ten battalion tactical groups of NATO, led by the United States, are currently stationed along the Belarusian border. These battalions comprise around 20,000 soldiers, with six of them being American. Belarus has vehemently opposed this deployment, expressing significant concerns over the presence of American troops near its territory.
Since the beginning of the Ukraine war, the relationship between Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin has strengthened. Lukashenko frequently visits the Kremlin, highlighting the close ties between the two leaders. Belarus participated in Russia’s non-strategic nuclear exercises ordered by Putin. However, initial peace talks between Russia and Ukraine were held in Minsk, Belarus, though they did not yield any positive outcomes.
In a further show of solidarity, Putin threatened to provide nuclear weapons to Belarus in response to the U.S. supplying arms to Ukraine and other anti-Russia nations. This highlights the growing military and strategic collaboration between Russia and Belarus amidst the conflict.
The Deputy Defense Minister of Belarus has raised alarms over NATO’s deployment, emphasizing efforts to understand and counter NATO’s technology and tactics. This underscores Belarus’s strategic positioning and its efforts to bolster its defenses amid rising tensions.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has also voiced concerns over Ukrainian military activities near the Belarus border. Peskov criticized the laying of landmines and the dispatch of reconnaissance aircraft into Belarusian airspace. He reiterated the close military coordination between Russia and Belarus, emphasizing that both countries’ defense ministries are in constant communication to address these threats.
India-Belarus Consular Dialogue
Amid these geopolitical tensions, Belarus hosted the first-ever India-Belarus Consular Dialogue on June 28, 2024, in Minsk. The Indian delegation, led by Dr Aman Puri, Joint Secretary (Consular, Passport, Visa), engaged with the Belarusian team headed by Andrei Kozhan, Head of the General Directorate for Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus. The dialogue covered a range of consular issues, including the welfare of Indian students in Belarus and the enhancement of tourism between the two countries.
The Indian delegation also held meetings with senior officials from the Belarusian Ministry of Sports and Tourism and representatives of the Indian student community in Belarus. Both sides agreed to follow up on the dialogue’s decisions and review them in the next edition of the India-Belarus Consular Dialogue, scheduled to be held in New Delhi at a mutually convenient date.
