On January 16 this year, the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, held a Security Council meeting dedicated to the consideration of two crucial strategic planning documents – the draft National Security Concept and the Military Doctrine of Belarus.
On January 16
this year, the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, held a Security Council
meeting, which was dedicated to the consideration of two crucial strategic
planning documents – the draft National Security Concept and the Military
Doctrine of Belarus.
In the modern history of Belarus, the Military Doctrine has been adopted
(refined) three times: in 1992, 2002, and 2016. The provisions of the military
doctrines of previous years clearly demonstrate the changes in approaches to
forming national military policy. Despite the fact that the document is
practically ready for submission to the All-Belarusian People's Assembly for
approval, the operation of discussion platforms continues.
We asked the military commissar of Lepel and Ushachi districts, Andrey
Pukhalsky, to comment on this issue.
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It is no secret that the geopolitical situation around our country, and in
the world as a whole, has been characterized by growing tension in recent
years. We saw how, during the migration crisis, military tension increased under
far-fetched pretexts: troops stationed on the border, the formation of new
military units. It is clear that in these conditions, the Republic of Belarus
is forced to make changes to the Military Doctrine in order to ensure a clearer
response to emerging challenges.
The changes are based on an assessment of the military-political situation
around our country. And it has fundamentally changed in recent years. We see
that the challenges and threats to Belarus have intensified, and the
militarization of the border areas is increasing. And the policy pursued by
neighboring states towards Belarus, the Union State, forces us to react and
take effective measures.
We state that the Military Doctrine has retained its peace-loving
orientation; we do not consider any state as an enemy. But at the same time, the
Military Doctrine declares readiness to defend national interests with all
forces and means available to the state.”
I understand that the revision of the Military Doctrine causes concern
among the population. The updating of the document's provisions is related to
making it more consistent with
to the challenges and threats that exist at the present moment. As for
nuclear weapons, the Military Doctrine does not specify the mechanisms, methods, forms
or tactical techniques for the use of this weapon. The doctrine declares
political aspects, stating that nuclear weapons are a means of strategic
deterrence against the unleashing of aggression against our state».
Particular emphasis is placed on negative trends associated with "attempts by individual
states (coalitions) to ensure their leadership without regard for the interests of all
subjects of international relations by implementing scenarios of "color
revolutions", using force and provoking internal armed
conflicts".
Overall, it should be noted that the document is targeted, reveals
the approaches of subjects of international relations to the use of military force, and provides
forecast assessments of the possible consequences of their development for our state.
The foundations of military policy are disclosed, and the goals and directions of its
implementation are detailed. The document proposes a new approach to the classification of military
conflicts: "...they are divided into internal and international, and wars
into interstate and coalition".
Once again, it should be emphasized that "The Republic of Belarus does not consider any state, any people as its enemy and is ready to build relations with everyone without
exception on the basis of mutual trust and peaceful
coexistence".
For the first time, the national Military Doctrine provides for the possibility of a forceful
response to destructive cyber impact.
The new Military Doctrine is a deeply elaborated document, adequate for perception,
reflecting the national system of views on maintaining
international peace and security, ensuring military security and
armed defence of the state. It fully meets modern and
prospective security requirements, covers all its areas, while remaining
a document for preserving peace, not escalating violence and war.
The principle "If you want peace, prepare for war" is creatively
supplemented and transformed in this case into the truth: "Without peace, there is no development, and a hundred years of negotiations are better than one year of war".
And I will take the liberty to state that the doctrine does not fundamentally change; it
retains its defensive orientation. In any case, we do not threaten anyone;
the Republic of Belarus pursues an absolutely peace-loving foreign policy, and our
President consistently advocates at all levels for measures,aimed at de-escalating international tensions, at the supremacy of international law, at the rejection of illegal international sanctions, - shared his opinion Andrey Leonidovich.
Prepared by Natalia Khrapovitskaya. Newspaper "Lepelsky Krai"
