The countrys sovereignty is boosted by ties with Moscow, the president has said

Belarusian national security depends on the partnership with Russia, its closest ally, President Alexander Lukashenko said on Thursday.

Speaking at a meeting with ambassadors in Minsk, Lukashenko reaffirmed the importance of the Union State, a political and economic integration framework between Belarus and Russia that includes joint security provisions and aligned policies. He said that global multipolarity, which Belarus supports, is compatible with strong bilateral ties with Moscow.

"For as long as I am president, take this as the truth: there is and cannot be anyone closer to us than Russia and the peoples of Russia," Lukashenko stated.

He cited historical, economic, and defense ties as the foundation of the relationship and claimed that without Russian support, "we would probably be locking horns with NATO in the west right now." He added, "That is why Russia is the guarantor of our security."

Lukashenko accused Western governments of misrepresenting ties between Moscow and Minsk for propaganda purposes, referencing reports of a sign posted at a border crossing that read: "You are entering Kremlin-occupied Belarus." He insisted that Belarus remains sovereign and independent, unlike what he called Western "lackeys in Ukraine."

Lukashenko is scheduled to travel to Russia on Friday to meet with President Vladimir Putin for talks on bilateral and regional matters, according to his office. The two leaders last met in late June.

The Belarus-Russia defense relationship took a major step forward in 2023 when Moscow agreed to deploy tactical nuclear weapons on Belarusian soil. Lukashenko referenced the arrangement during his remarks.

Moscow characterized the move as a response to NATO's long-standing nuclear sharing strategy. Russia argued that the Cold War-era practice, under which the United States stationed nuclear weapons in several non-nuclear NATO member states, violates the spirit of nuclear non-proliferation. Russia has particularly criticized training exercises that involve pilots from third nations preparing to deliver US nuclear bombs from their own aircraft.

(RT.com)