Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov has warned that NATO’s military preparations near the borders of the Union State require a response from Russia and Belarus. He stressed that the armed forces of both countries must be ready to react promptly to changes in the military and political situation.
Speaking at a joint meeting of the Russian and Belarusian defense ministries in Minsk, Belousov called for closer military cooperation and stronger defense capabilities to address emerging security threats.
The Russian minister identified Europe’s accelerating militarization as a particular concern. According to Belousov, European countries are shifting their industries toward military production while developing infrastructure designed to support the rapid deployment of armed forces.
He also stated that NATO plans to expand eight multinational battalion groups stationed on its eastern flank into brigade-sized formations by 2027.
Against this backdrop, Moscow and Minsk are strengthening their joint defense arrangements. Belousov said the two countries are improving coordination between their armed forces and conducting military exercises that incorporate lessons learned from Russia’s special military operation.
He emphasized that further strengthening their combined military capabilities is essential to ensuring a timely response to potential threats.