Belarus declares no plans for military expansion

Belarus has no intention of expanding its armed forces, despite rising regional tensions and an increasingly assertive military posture from neighboring countries, a senior official said.

State Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus, Aleksandr Volfovich, confirmed that Minsk is not pursuing militarization, dismissing concerns over a potential military buildup, Caliber.Az reports, citing Belarus media.

“Belarus does not prioritize militarization or increasing the size of its Armed Forces,” Volfovich said.

His comments come amid growing unease in Eastern Europe, where Poland and the Baltic states have significantly bolstered their defence capabilities in response to heightened geopolitical frictions. Volfovich acknowledged these developments but insisted Belarus poses no threat to its neighbors.

“We see how the armed forces of Poland and the Baltic states are being strengthened, and we hear the rhetoric directed at us from their side,” he stated.

The official also expressed frustration over what he described as a lack of engagement with Belarus’ diplomatic overtures. “Unfortunately, we observe that the level of military threats around our country continues to grow, despite the peaceful initiatives and proposals voiced by the head of state and coming from the Republic of Belarus,” he said. “These remain hanging in the air and receive no response from our European neighbors.”

Volfovich firmly rejected accusations that Belarus is a source of instability in the region, calling such claims unfounded.

By Vafa Guliyeva