Belarus warns of potential war alongside Russia: Key details

The risk of war between Russia, Belarus, and the West has become very high.
Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin stated this during a meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states in Moscow.

Threat of World War III — Belarus' statement

The head of the Belarusian defense ministry said that Minsk and Moscow view the current expansion of NATO’s military presence near their borders as direct preparation for a clash.

«Assessing the situation in the Eastern European region, we state that the probability of a military conflict being unleashed against the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, both CSTO members, as well as the possibility of its further transformation from regional to global, is extremely high,» he said.

According to the Belarusian defense minister, around 21,000 NATO troops are currently stationed in Poland and the Baltic states, while the leadership of these nations is attempting to further increase the US contingent.

Khrenin also claims that NATO is practicing offensive operations and troop deployments to its eastern borders. He alleged that the bloc’s record defense spending, which exceeded $1.6 trillion annually, directly indicates preparations for war.

At the same time, the official assured that Belarus and its allies are ready for a potential confrontation.

«We are capable not only of providing an adequate response to modern challenges and threats but also of becoming a driving force in shaping a new international security architecture, for which there is a mature demand in Eurasia,» he added.

Viktor Khrenin did not specify which countries' representatives, apart from the Russian side, attended this meeting of the CSTO defense chiefs.