{"id":196811,"date":"2026-07-22T17:34:48","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T14:34:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/196811\/"},"modified":"2026-07-22T17:34:50","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T14:34:50","slug":"belarus-defense-minister-tones-down-his-anti-western-rhetoric","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/196811\/","title":{"rendered":"Belarus’ defense minister tones down his anti-Western rhetoric"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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July 22, Pozirk.<\/em> <\/strong>There are no signs that neighboring countries are preparing to attack Belarus, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktar Chrenin told Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka on July 22, a notable shift of rhetoric for Belarus as Ukraine, backed by the West, appears to be gaining momentum in its war against Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Monitoring NATO\u2019s armed forces, we do not see much activity,\u201d Chrenin reported, according to the defense ministry\u2019s press office, adding that they are conducting only one military exercise near the Belarusian border and flying a \u201cminimal number\u201d of missions. \u201cTherefore, we believe that the situation around Belarus is stable, and we do not see any threat, tension, or preparations for a sudden attack,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chrenin added that there are also no signs of preparations for any “aggressive actions\u201d by Ukraine. According to him, a bare-bones contingent of special-task troops is stationed in the border area with Ukraine in the Belarusian territory, “ensuring security in cooperation with border guards.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chrenin denied reports that Belarus is building fortifications along the border with Ukraine. \u201cWe have, of course, heard this [claim] and take at it with a smile,” he said, adding that such \u201cfake news\u201d is intended to “create tension in society.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, Chrenin reported that \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s order to create defensive strongholds along Belarus\u2019 western and northern borders had been fulfilled. There are five fortified areas in the west and the north, he said. According to him, the construction of defense lines in the south \u201cis not even on the agenda.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chrenin dismissed fears over the development of infrastructure at the border with Ukraine. According to him, authorities are \u201crepairing bridges, upgrading roads and creating new recreational areas\u201d there solely for improving living conditions and fostering economic growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chrenin is known for his aggressive statements and gloomy predictions amid the ongoing conflict in the region. Most recently, in a speech at an \u201cinternational anti-fascist congress\u201d in Minsk on June 26, Chrenin accused Europeans of having a \u201cNazi mentality.\u201d By \u201cintimidating the population with an imaginary threat from the East,\u201d the European Union is \u201clike the Third Reich before it,\u201d militarizing, expanding its military-industrial complex, and preparing for war, he claimed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking at a meeting of defense ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization in Moscow on June 3, Chrenin warned that Western countries are highly likely to attack Belarus and Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka and his senior officials have repeatedly accused the West of harboring aggressive intentions toward Belarus. Minsk has portrayed defensive measures taken by neighboring EU and NATO members as preparations for aggression against Belarus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, when Russia started a full-scale war against Ukraine in 2022, the Belarusian authorities sided with the Kremlin, allowing Russian troops to attack Ukraine from Belarus on multiple occasions and supplying arms to Moscow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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