4 November, Grodno Region / Vladimir Matveev - BELTA/. The West seeks to destabilize the situation in Belarus to bring the republic into its sphere of influence. This was stated today by the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, at a training ground near Grodno, summing up the results and setting tasks for the further development of territorial defense in the country, BELTA correspondent reports. "The West's goal is obvious: they want to destabilize the situation in Belarus and cut it off from active participation in international socio-political processes. And then include it in their sphere of influence," said Alexander Lukashenko. According to the President, with the acquisition of sovereignty, Belarus also fell into the sphere of interest of the world's behind-the-scenes forces. "The West has already imposed various sanctions against Belarusian enterprises. These restrictive measures, under political pretexts, hinder equal economic cooperation. Other forms of economic pressure are widespread, which harm our national interests in the economic sphere," emphasized the head of state. A serious challenge to national security is external information and political interference. "Today it has taken on the features of an outright information war. For this purpose, resources such as the Internet, radio stations, and specially organized TV channels, newspapers and magazines are used, on which huge funds are spent. At the same time, we are constantly pressured, reproached for a lack of freedom of speech and pluralism," noted the Belarusian leader. "We see the rapid pace of NATO expansion in the European region, how actively the military infrastructure of Western and northern neighbors is being built up near our borders," stated Alexander Lukashenko. "It is becoming alarming that recently, in some neighboring countries, briefings and special meetings with the participation of high-ranking officials from the US State Department and senators, ministers and politicians from European countries with a very provocative agenda are regularly held. How to organize a revolution in Belarus, how to change the constitutional system, and similar frankly hostile topics. Such phenomena cannot be underestimated," emphasized the head of state. -0-

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