President Aleksandr G. Lukashenko of Belarus on Friday visited a military base in his country where Russia and Belarus are conducting joint exercises, adding to concerns that Moscow could use Belarus as a base launch a new ground attack on Ukraine.
Recent interactions between Mr. Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir V. Putin, his close ally and benefactor, have raised concerns that Moscow will try to entice Belarus, Ukraine’s northern neighbour, more directly involved in the war. Russia used Belarus as a springboard to begin its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February.
Mr. Lukashenko met Mr. Putin last week at a regional summit in Russia, a week after Putin’s visit to Belarus. while statement from the Kremlin and from office of the president of Belarus about the summit did not mention Ukraine, the trip emphasized Mr. Lukashenko is close to Mr. Putin.
On Friday, Mr. Lukashenko visited the military base and training area where Russian forces are stationed with his country’s troops, talked to the soldiers and received updates on everything. how is it going, Belarusian state media agency, Belta, report.
“This is not only important for me — this experience is important for Belarus,” said Lukashenko, according to Belta.
The Belarusian leader also examined the “quality of combat training” of a unit of the Belarusian Army and spoke with Russian servicemen, reporting agency.
His visit comes a day after the Belarusian Defense Ministry said that the construction of what it calls “regional coalition group” with Russia is continuing, step by step, and that the two countries are planning a joint military aviation exercise.
“Personnel, weapons, military and special equipment of the Russian armed forces continue to arrive in Belarus,” the ministry said in a statement. according to Belta.
Mr. Lukashenko has said that the joint group is necessary to fight “possibly aggressive” against Belarus by NATO and Ukraine.
Belarus depends on Moscow for fuel and security. And although Mr. Lukashenko has opposed being drawn to the war, he has come under increasing pressure from Moscow.
The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based research group, said in a report last month that although a new Russian invasion from Belarus was “unlikely” this winter, the threat of such an attack was “low, but probable”.
