Emanuelis Zingeris: NATO should react to Belarus's militarisation

A deputy chair of the Committee on European Affairs in the Lithuanian Seimas thinks the militarisation of Belarus is aimed at NATO member states.

He spoke to charter97.org about the Belarusian ruler's threats to Lithuania, Latvia and Poland.

The Lithuanian MP thinks Lukashenka makes such remarks to distract Belarusians from current problems.

“The regime urgently needs consolidation. People usually shout about danger when they want to hide something. In this case, Lukashenka says about external threats to distract people from the economic ruin and absence of democracy,” Emanuelis Zingeris said.

The politician is confident that Lithuania, Latvia and Poland should take Minsk's threats seriously. Taking into account the plans to open a Russia air base  and carry out the joint military exercises in Belarus, they give the country's neighbours a ground for concern.

“A new air base is another step aimed at militarisation of the area. It is clear defiance to the practically demilitarised Baltic states, which are protected only by four NATO planes. If we look at the military forces in Belarus and Russia's Kaliningrad region, we'll see that the militarisation curve goes up.

NATO's arsenal is not aimed at its former rival in the cold war or any particular country. It  has absolutely different goals. Nevertheless, Belarus will soon host military exercises with participation of Russian soldiers. Similar manoeuvres, which were held a few years ago, were clearly directed against the Baltic states and Poland. That's why we have to raise the question in NATO on a reaction to this groundless militarisation.”

Lukashenka threatened Belarus's neighbours during his yesterday's meeting with Russian minister of defence Sergey Shoygu.