Belarus’ senator comments on whether international conflicts will escalate in 2023

International relations are now experiencing a very acute situation, and the collective West will try to aggravate certain conflicts in one situation or another taking into account its own geostrategic interests – as noted by the Chairperson of the Standing Commission of Belarus’ Council of the Republic on Foreign Affairs and National Security, Sergei Rachkov

The senator stressed that destruction of the global security architecture lies in the bottom of the current crisis of international relations. “We see how the Western countries, primarily the United States, do not comply with certain international and bilateral agreements in the field of arms control. NATO is expanding, while admitting new members. Of course, these are very dangerous trends that do not contribute to the strengthening and preservation of the global and regional Council of the Republic. Our President rightly noted that it is necessary to strengthen the CSTO military component, and co-ordination of actions of the organisation's member states in the military sphere is needed now. Military-technical co-operation should also be expanded,” he explained.

Mr. Rachkov mentioned the threat coming from Belarus’ western and southern neighbours. Military groups are being strengthened on their borders.

“Speaking of the possibility of new regional conflicts, I would primarily note that the so-called frozen conflicts will escalate. At the moment, a conflict between Ukraine and Russia is actually in its acute stage. We can also mention a conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, and there are also territorial issues between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Let’s recall Transnistria, a conflict of Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. There are problems in other regions of the world: i.e. Syria," the senator said, adding that five of these conflicts are in the CSTO area of responsibility.

“In my opinion, the collective West, in one situation or another, taking into account its own geostrategic interests, will try to escalate certain conflicts to solve its tasks,” Mr. Rachkov noted, stressing that it is now very important for the CSTO to strengthen its military component and develop military-technical co-operation.