Фото: пресс-служба Лукашенко
Alyaksandr Lukashenka, during a meeting with the new CSTO secretary general, Taalatbek Masadykov, a representative of Kyrgyzstan, outlined his vision for the organisation’s work. As an example, he assessed the possible actions of Kyrgyzstan in the event of a conflict in Belarus.
“Belarus has always been the locomotive of the development of relations within the CSTO and other structures in the former Soviet space. Our approaches are absolutely open. We are not hiding anything or concealing anything. As for the CSTO, from the very beginning, long ago when this organisation was being formed, I proposed a formula for action. We understand that the central link in this organisation is Russia. And everyone must clearly understand that, for example, in the western direction, Belarus is naturally the main link in the CSTO.
And God forbid there is some conflict in this direction, Russia must always have here a core of armed forces that will join the actions of the Belarusian army in order to protect our space. In the south, of course, both you and Kazakhstan will have to strain yourselves. Definitely. Because this is the southern direction and, again, Russia will support you. And back you up, as the military say,” Lukashenka said, according to his press service.
He recalled the deployment of allied troops to Kazakhstan in January 2022 during the unrest in that country.
“I understand perfectly well that if some conflict suddenly arose in Belarus, Kyrgyzstan would not engage and would not become involved with its armed forces at 100%. Maybe that is not necessary. But I am sure there would be political support and military support to some extent. And vice versa. That is why I said that the central link for us should be the Russian Federation and its armed forces. That is natural.
Most of our weapons are Soviet-made and produced in the Russian Federation. Our tactics are the same as those of the post-Soviet republics. Therefore, we will have to defend ourselves together. Bearing in mind that in the main directions, those states located in those directions will act. That was the philosophy proposed. Life has shown that this is exactly how we will act,” Lukashenka continued.
At the same time, he did not rule out the possibility that a situation could arise in which all CSTO countries would have to act together.
“I think that in this regard we will continue to act in the future. Although I do not rule out that a situation may arise in which all of us, shoulder to shoulder, with all our armed forces and weapons, will defend the space in which our organisation should function,” he said.