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Aliaksandr Kamarouski: Russian military bases in Belarus are a trap

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Aliaksandr Kamarouski: Russian military bases in Belarus are a trap
Aliaksandr Kamarouski
Photo: RFE/RL

Aliaksandr Kamarouski, a co-founder of the organising committee to create Defenders of Motherland association, assesses risks of setting up Russian military bases in Belarus.

He spoke about it in an interview with racyja.com.

Russia promises to respond to the US and NATO's tanks, artillery systems and other heavy weapons in Eastern Europe with the deployment of Iskander missile systems and strengthening its forces in Belarus, Major General Yuri Yakubov, the coordinator of the Russian Defence Ministry's Office of the Inspectors General, said.

“It is desirable not to turn Belarus into Russia's training range. Otherwise, we can reach the level of our eastern ally. It is another matter that it is difficult for the Belarusian authorities to leave the submarine, because the country's dependence on Russia is so strong that they don't have a way out. Official Minsk tries to carry out its seemingly independent policy, but we have what we have.

– What are the risks of setting up Russian military bases in Belarus?

– Belarus should carry out a neutral policy and be friends with everyone, both the East and the West. We see what troubles Moscow has due to the war in Ukraine. It also drags Belarus into troubles. This is a kind of a trap. Do we need it? Being a former army officer, I personally against beefing up joint military forces and turning Belarus into a Russian training range. Russia should settle the confrontation peacefully, establish its moral policy and stop what it has been doing for the last two years.

– What will Belarus get in exchange for the deployment of Russian troops in the country?

– Nothing good, but Russia will probably issue another loan and offer discounts for buying oil and gas. Russia is in crisis now, billions of dollars are being spent on the war with Ukraine and on Crimea. The economy is declining. Moscow fears the economic situation may get even worse. What can we get from Russia? I don't say that we shouldn't have any military contacts with Russia. We cannot be absolutely neutral. We need a reasonable compromise. The more neutral we are, the safer we can feel.

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