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Belarus is arming: are we the next target for Iskander missiles?
Belarus increases military activity with Russian Iskander missiles ahead of Sapad 2025. Experts warn of threatened stability in Europe.
Belarus is arming: are we the next target for Iskander missiles?
Things could get heated in Eastern Europe in the coming months, as the shadow of the Sapad 2025 military exercise is already looming. How Bachhausen reports, the Russian-Belarusian joint exercise will take place in September and raises dark questions. Experts agree that the exercises with the nuclear-capable Iskander-M missiles in Belarus show alarming parallels to the military escalation before the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The Iskander-M missiles, stationed in the Belarusian town of Asipovichy, could theoretically reach as far as East Germany. This reach should not be underestimated, especially since the Bundeswehr soldiers in Lithuania have already been put on alert to respond to any developments. Officials from Minsk and Moscow emphasize that the systems are designed to be defensive, but their striking mobility and range suggest that offensive operations are also possible.
Military cooperation between Russia and Belarus
Military cooperation between Russia and Belarus has increased significantly in recent years. Joint maneuvers and the development of military infrastructure are high on the agenda. In 2021, an air defense center was built in Grodno and Russian troops are permanently stationed in Belarus. Tactical nuclear weapons were also deployed to the country in 2023, a move that has further inflamed tensions in the region.
The Belarusian armed forces have now taken autonomous control of the Russian-supplied Iskander systems. Training to handle these missiles took place in Russia, followed by practice periods in their home country. According to Belarusian military leaders, they previously lacked an effective striking tool with a range of more than 300 km.
International tensions and stakes
The geopolitical tensions are clearly noticeable, especially since the Belarusian armed forces recently had to start mobilizing a brigade of 6,000 soldiers. Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin also hinted at the West saying they could provide strategic nuclear weapons if the hostile rhetoric continued. Such statements make the neighbors even more nervous.
The military exercises of the Russian Pacific Fleet, which was surprisingly put on alert, should also be viewed in this context. These exercises involve military mobilizations and simulated combat operations and show that the security situation in the region undoubtedly remains tense. Meanwhile, reports from Ukraine report fierce fighting for strategically important areas such as Bakhmut, with the Ukrainian armed forces coming under increasing pressure.
Cooperation between Russia and Belarus could not only endanger the stability of the entire region, but also trigger unexpected reactions from NATO countries. The situation remains tense, while developments in the coming months will have to be closely monitored.