Creation and development, not destruction and extermination, are the main guidelines of Belarusian society

What does the updated National Security Concept include

Last week, the Security Council of Belarus, headed by President Aleksandr Lukashenko, reviewed the updated strategic documents — the National Security Concept and the Military Doctrine. Soon they will be approved, as required by the new Constitution, at the Belarusian People’s Congress. Their adoption is our response to geopolitical changes in the world, new challenges and threats. The International Institute for Strategic Studies in London states that in 2023 there were 183 regional conflicts in the world, 57 of which were in the ‘hot’ phase, that is, military force was used. In this regard, the revision of the Concept of National Security and the Military Doctrine of Belarus is especially relevant, since today the task of maintaining peace is a priority for most states on the planet.

Fundamental military-political document

The National Security Concept is a fundamental military-political document that regulates the state’s approaches to ensuring its own security in various areas. In our country, the previous edition of the Concept was adopted in 2010. Since then, the balance of political forces around Belarus has changed significantly, and a new version of the Constitution has been adopted.
Today, leading states have entered into an uncompromising struggle for geopolitical dominance, and the planet is at the stage of forming a multipolar world order. Since 2010, military science and practice have made significant strides forward, new high-tech weapons have appeared, including those with elements of artificial intelligence. Western countries have actually carried out coups d’état using the mechanisms of ‘colour revolutions’ in many parts of the world, including in neighbouring Ukraine. In August 2020, our country became the target of destructive influence. Since 2022, the United States and its satellites have launched the process of destroying the alliance between Russia and Belarus through economic strangulation and hybrid warfare at the hands of the Ukrainian regime.
All this led to the objective need to adjust the fundamental principles of ensuring national security in our country, which were implemented in the period from 2022 to 2023.

Taking into account new trends

An analysis of the provisions of the draft National Security Concept of Belarus for 2023, which is publicly available, indicates that the document has been significantly expanded and supplemented. In particular, the general provisions of Section I are brought into line with modern scientific achievements.

The list of areas of national security has been expanded by highlighting biological security as a separate area, which reflects the experience of modern wars and armed conflicts and trends in the art of war.

Sections II and III have been radically revised, which made it possible to reflect the trends of the modern world, clarify the national interests of our state and the list of threats to national security in various areas. Significant attention is paid in the document to national identity, historical heritage, and traditional values, which have become objects of direct operation in modern interstate confrontation.

Element of strategic deterrence

At the same time, as part of the nationwide discussion of the National Security Concept, which was initiated by the Head of State, the scientific community and citizens of the country, certain additions and clarifications were proposed.
Thus, statements by Poland about its desire to place American nuclear weapons on its own territory and Israel about the possibility of using atomic charges (despite the official denial of their presence) amid the escalation of the conflict in the Gaza Strip forced the addition of paragraph 5 of the concept. In its final version, it looks like this, “The number of states wishing to become owners of nuclear weapons or place them on their territory, primarily in Europe, is growing. The risks of a nuclear conflict are increasing.”

This addition justifies the decision to station Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus as a critical element of strategic deterrence.

Traditional values and mental purity

Issues of a spiritual and moral nature, protecting the institution of the traditional family, and increasing the efficiency of security in the demographic sphere received significant resonance and feedback in Belarusian society. They are reflected in a number of sections of the concept. Thus, as a strategic national interest, a provision was introduced on ‘the comprehensive protection and preservation of the institution of the traditional family as a union between a woman and a man by birth’. In paragraph 29, one of the main threats to national security is ‘depopulation, demographic aging, declining birth rates, shortening life expectancy, and the decay of the institution of the traditional family’. And the main direction of neutralising internal sources of threats in the demographic sphere is defined as ‘comprehensive stimulation of the birth rate, ensuring simple reproduction of the population, strengthening the institution of the family, preventing its degradation, preserving traditional spiritual and moral values’.
The provisions regarding ‘civil society’ received additional development within the framework of the National Security Concept. They are reflected in paragraphs 31, 64 and 71 of the document.

Demand for peace, security and justice

Today in Belarusian society there is a real demand for security and stability. Events in many parts of the world and in our own homes demonstrate how easy it is to lose them and what incredible efforts it takes to preserve them. Belarus is a peaceful country, and our citizens have well learned the bitter lessons of history.

Belarus once again declares to all states that it has no complaints against anyone, is ready to build a peaceful and equal dialogue with everyone, but will not tolerate forceful dictatorship.