Moscow will consider any military attack on Belarus as an attack on Russia, Moscow’s ambassador to Belarus, Mikhail Babich, said in an interview with the Belarus 1 television channel on Sunday.
Russia has expressed concerns over a Polish proposal to establish a permanent U.S. military base in the country, which borders Russia's Kaliningrad exclave as well as military ally Belarus. Polish President Andrzej Duda proposed naming the base “Fort Trump” during discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington in September.
“Of course, this is an alarming factor, and it should not be underestimated,” Babich said in comments about the proposed U.S. military base, adding that Belarus, which borders Poland, had also expressed concerns about the move.
“A military attack on Belarus will be regarded as an attack on Russia with all the resulting consequences” Babich said, before noting that Russia and Belarus have "an absolutely mutual understanding" on the issue.
"We have a regional grouping of troops and forces, and today all the components that are necessary for both defense and retaliation are in place," the ambassador said.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
