NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the deployment of Russian
troops in Belarus was the largest number since the end of the Cold War. The
deployment of troops includes, Spetsnaz special forces, Iskander ballistic
missiles to the S-400 missile system.
In a statement made following a meeting with North Macedonian Prime Minister
Dimitar Kovacevski on Thursday, Stoltenberg accused Russia of sending a
combat unit totaling 30,000 personnel, including the Spetsnaz special
forces, to a training ground in Belarus.
Large numbers of troops have been deployed to Belarus in recent weeks, which
Stoltenberg described as the highest concentration of Russian troops seen in
the area for decades.
Among the armaments deployed are the S-400 air defense system and the
Iskander mobile short-range ballistic missile system, as well as fighter
jets. The sudden deployment of Russian troops in Belarus coincides with the
"Union Resolve 2022", the two countries' joint combat drills that will begin
February 10, 2022.
NATO views the operation as a war activity, especially as Russia will not
disclose the exact number of troops it has deployed, with Moscow claiming
its troops will be moved when the exercises end on February 20, 2022.
On Thursday, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu arrived at the training
grounds for an inspection, a week before the drills were due to start. The
2022 Union Resolve is coming soon as tensions on Russia's border with
Ukraine continue to heat up.
Moscow is accused by Western countries of gathering troops and military
hardware near Ukraine for the invasion.
It is, according to NATO, combined with the buildup of troops in Belarus,
which is a cause for serious concern. The US-led military bloc has
repeatedly called on Moscow to de-escalate tensions.
In his statement carried by Russia Today, Friday (4/2/2022), Stoltenberg
also stated NATO's intention to carry out diplomatic dialogue to resolve
disagreements between NATO and Russia, in particular on issues surrounding
disarmament and arms control, insisting that they are committed to a
political solution to the problem. crisis.
The day before, the NATO secretary general welcomed the US decision to
deploy additional troops to Europe, despite repeated calls for de-escalation
on the part of Russia.
The deployment of an additional 3,000 troops to bases in Poland, Germany and
Romania was denounced by the Kremlin as evidence that the US is continuing
to escalate tensions.
According to Washington, the US has also placed an additional 8,500 troops
on high alert.
