Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has declared that a newly signed mutual defense treaty with Russia guarantees Belarus’ “absolute security,” citing the alliance with nuclear-armed Russia as a powerful deterrent against any potential foreign aggression.
The defense pact, signed in December by Moscow and Minsk, strengthens the military integration of the two nations under the framework of the Union State. The agreement commits both sides to coordinated responses to external threats and deeper military collaboration, further aligning Belarus with Russia’s strategic defense policies.
“Absolute security—no one will go to war with a nuclear country,” Lukashenko said during an interview with Mir TV when asked about the implications of the treaty for Belarus.
Drawing a parallel with North Korea, Lukashenko added, “No matter how much someone might want to wipe North Korea off the face of the earth, it won’t happen—it’s a nuclear state. It’s the same with Belarus.”
He also claimed that Belarus’ neighbors have adopted a more cautious stance since the agreement was signed.
“The Poles, the Baltic countries, and others had their own plans, but now they are quiet,” Lukashenko said. “I follow their statements, I receive reports—they’re being careful now.”
The original Union State agreement, signed in 1999, aimed to facilitate economic integration, including the free movement of labor, capital, and goods. In recent years, however, the focus has increasingly shifted toward defense cooperation. The new treaty is widely seen as a formal step toward deeper military alignment, particularly in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Belarus remains Russia’s closest ally and allowed its territory to be used as a launchpad for Russian forces during the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The strengthened defense pact underscores Minsk’s growing military dependence on Moscow amid escalating tensions with NATO member states along its borders.
