Khrenin: Belarus will further contribute in every possible way to universal security through generally accessible development
Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin delivered a speech at the 10th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, Belarus’ Defence Ministry reports in its Telegram channel
In his speech, Mr. Khrenin focused on the situation on the world stage, “The increasing level of militarisation, the unlimited growth of military power creates the illusion among regional states that all problems can be solved by force. The logic is simple here: a local conflict may go unnoticed by the international community in the conditions of the world order transformation, when the geopolitical centres of power are involved in uncompromising confrontation against each other. Accordingly, there will be no reaction from international security organisations.”
The Defence Minister noted that non-state players – acting through international terrorist and extremist organisations – share the same attitude, trying to win their place in the emerging world order. “They are realising these aspirations through their own armed formations," Mr. Khrenin concluded.
In this regard, modern society is witnessing the activation of hotbeds of ‘frozen conflicts’ around the world, and the Defence Minister mentioned Syria, Ukraine and other conflict zones as an example. “The military confrontation in the Middle East is among them as well,” he added.
Mr. Khrenin also noted that Belarus agrees and supports ‘the idea of harmonious and equal-right coexistence of all countries, all peoples’, “The world cannot find common ground – so that to start a progressive way out of the situation of global confrontation based on it.”
The Defence Minister said that the Republic of Belarus has never linked its future with a military solution to international problems. Instead, the country adheres to a peaceful way of resolving disputed issues, and military force is just a last resort to repel the aggressor.
In his speech, Mr. Khrenin called on all responsible independent countries to think about restarting the international treaty system aimed at increasing transparency in the military sphere, maintaining the parity of military forces with simultaneous disarmament to the level of defence sufficiency.
"As participants of the Belt and Road initiative, we will continue to contribute in every way to universal security through generally accessible development," he said. “We will also contribute to the efforts of the world community in eliminating the sources of wars that lie in poverty, inequality, and injustice.”
