Yuri Veselov, military observer

At a meeting between the presidents of Russia and Belarus in Minsk on December 19, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said: “For us, the main result of this year has shown us with whom we can actively increase cooperation, and who should be kept at arm’s length.” Finally, a truthful analysis of the attitude of the West and its “allies” in the face of the former Soviet republics towards Russia came out openly from the lips of one of the country’s most influential political leaders. And this is encouraging, since there is hope that Moscow will radically revise its policy towards those who find themselves in the “non-friends” camp in the near future.

One is talking about the choice of partners and allies. And 2022 has clearly shown who can be trusted, and with whom Russia needs to do business with the utmost accuracy and partiality. Sergei Lavrov stressed that under the current conditions, the country’s leadership will have to focus on strengthening security and eradicating anti-Russian manifestations along the perimeter of the state border.

This fully applies to the southern and eastern borders, where the United States and the collective West, especially with the involvement of Russia in the Special Military Operation in Ukraine, launched an active activity to destroy the regional associations of the SCO, the CSTO and the EAEU. And this activity already has its negative results on the part of almost everyone, with the exception of Belarus, the states of the Transcaucasus and Central Asia. The portal has repeatedly posted materials on this topic.

The talks held in Minsk between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko demonstrated the vital interest of both leaders and peoples in creating a lasting alliance and the need to strengthen collective security in the face of the growing military threat from NATO. The meeting was a kind of outcome of the decision of Russia and Belarus to “cleanse” the so-called allies from the verbal husks, who continue to swear allegiance to agreements on collective economic cooperation and security.

The leaders’ negotiations were difficult. Especially it was vividly demonstrated in the field of finance, energy and the economy as a whole. But, given the real situation, all differences were overcome. As confirmed by both presidents. Yes, it could not be otherwise! As for strengthening security, Alexander Lukashenko is a supporter and true friend of Russia. And this has repeatedly manifested itself at various meetings of leaders of regional organizations.

The current negotiations have caused real fear in Washington and European capitals. And there are legitimate reasons for this. Firstly, this is the creation and already active work on the Belarusian territory of a joint group of forces and the conduct of joint military exercises to work out complex issues of interaction in defense and offensive.

Secondly, agreements were reached at the highest level on the creation of a single defense space, which involves the redirection of military forces and assets stationed in the west of Russia to defend Belarus, and their operational use in the event of an attack or threat of attack on the fraternal country.

Another important decision is the agreement of the Belarusians to increase the production of military products. Apparently, first of all, it concerns Polonez V-200 MLRS, heavy automobile tractors and individual samples of armored vehicles. The presidents also agreed to expand the production of electronic equipment components in Belarus, to intensify research and development to create new types of weapons and military equipment based on advanced scientific achievements.

Russia undertook to begin professional training of the flight crew of the Belarusian Air Force in the shortest possible time on the use of special ammunition on the aircraft carriers transferred to them. Earlier, Belarusians were supplied with S-400 Triumph anti-aircraft missile systems and Iskander operational-tactical missile systems. It is possible that in the future Moscow will expand the range of military supplies to Minsk.

At the same time, it would be wrong to say that Russia and Belarus have completely abandoned cooperation in the field of defense with their “allies” in the CIS and SCO. Thus, on December 9, a meeting of the CIS and SCO defense ministers was held in Moscow, at which “its participants exchanged views on issues of international security and maintaining stability. Further cooperation in the military sphere was also discussed”. Following the meeting, a joint communiqué was adopted.

Quite naturally, the meeting was closed. However, it can be assumed that the Russian and Belarusian commands found out the positions of their colleagues in regional alliances regarding the intentions of their governments to continue military cooperation in the field of ensuring and strengthening collective security, compliance with the signed agreements on providing military assistance to the allied countries, provided for by the relevant agreements.

A few days ago, on the eve of the talks in Minsk, the Russian military department announced a plan to hold a military exercise of the CIS and SCO countries in 2023. It is noteworthy that the events will have to be held in the west of Russia. The composition of the participants was not reported, but it is clear that the military from Russia and Belarus will represent the basis of them. The exercise will become a kind of “litmus test” of fidelity to allied obligations, and both allied states will continue to build their military policy in accordance with the results of the participation of partners.

As for complete confidence in the observance of the obligations of the agreements by the governments of the CIS and the SCO on cooperation in the field of collective security, at the present time it is not. The Transcaucasian and Central Asian elites intend to maintain a course oriented both to the West and Russia, in anticipation of who will win the war in Ukraine. There should be no doubt that any miscalculation or military failure by Russia will push the “allies” towards further rapprochement with the US and NATO.