Lukashenko tells West not to worry about upcoming CSTO military exercise in Belarus

The West should not worry about the Collective Security Treaty Organization military exercise, which is due to begin in Belarus on 1 September, BelTA learned from Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko.

Asked whether the West should treat this military exercise as some special signal, Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “Not really. Frankly speaking, I didn't even learn details of this exercise. But in the current situation in order not to inflate tensions, I'd like to say there is no combat component in it. Small units of some CSTO states will be there to focus mainly on staff things, tactics, and strategy for the future. This is why all of them know. We've warned them in advance after all.”

Yet the head of state is convinced that the West will exploit the relevant matters. “They will say that Putin and Lukashenko have once again come up with something in Belarus and are close to invading unlucky Poland again… Nothing like that. No offensive. We practice usual things that were planned a long time ago. This is why you and they do not have to worry about it,” he stated.