Lukashenko describes Poland, Baltic states as bridgehead for NATO

Poland and the Baltic states are being purposefully turned into a bridgehead for NATO, Belarusian President, Chairman of the 7th Belarusian People's Congress Aleksandr Lukashenko said at the 7th Belarusian People's Congress on 25 April, BelTA has learned.

"We see how airfields, naval bases, training grounds are being improved at a rapid pace on the other side of our western border. They are setting up forward bases for the advance deployment and storage of equipment, weapons and materiel. To date, five airfields, two naval bases and six large test sites have been upgraded in Poland and the Baltic countries," Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

A logistics and technical support complex has been put into operation in Poland. We see that they are setting up the conditions to host the armored combat brigade group of the U.S. Army. Thus, a weapons depot in Powidz can hold almost 3,000 units of military equipment.

“As for the combat units of the Polish Armed Forces on the border with Belarus... Under the pretext of strengthening security, the army solves reconnaissance and sabotage tasks. Well, Poland intends to create ‘the strongest ground forces in Europe’. Of course, this will be done with the help of military-technical support from the United States," the president said. “Warsaw is steadily increasing the number of the Armed Forces: by 2035 it is planned to increase them to 300,000 (from the current 190,000). I can't resist commenting either. This poor thing Poland has no one left to work and solve its civil problems which are many. What kind of battles are they dreaming of? Who will provide for them? After all, a war requires a strong economy. Meanwhile Poland is sitting on subsidies from the European Union and assistance from the United States of America."

The Polish ground forces are setting up an army corps. Its operational readiness will be achieved by September of this year. "For non-military people I will explain what operational readiness means. This means readiness to deploy instantly,” the head of state emphasized. “We deployed a couple of battalions from Vitebsk and are now standing head-on with NATO. Battalions of full operational readiness. Ready to leave the home bases within three hours."

The new mechanized formations of the Polish army are equipped with modern military equipment. Poland is completing the process of forming territorial defense forces. The command of this branch of the Armed Forces has reported full operational readiness. To date, 15 out of 18 brigades and a training center of the territorial defense forces have been created. The remaining three formations are to be completed this year.

"By re-equipping the Armed Forces, Poland focuses on the purchase of modern combat aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, armored vehicles, multiple launch rocket systems and anti-aircraft missile systems of both foreign and domestic make. Poland also intends to sign contracts to buy American AH-64 attack helicopters, the so-called Apache (as many as 96 pieces)," Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

"In turn, in order to strengthen their military potential, the Baltic countries are directing their main efforts into improving military infrastructure, increasing military spending, boosting the combat and numerical strength of the national armed forces, while at the same time re-equipping with modern military equipment. For example, in the future, all Baltic states will be armed with American HIMARS MLRS," the President said.

Special attention should be paid to the decision of Lithuania to create a division-level formation in the structure of the Armed Forces. It will be based on all ground brigades and will also include tank (German Leopard tanks), artillery (U.S. HIMARS MLRS) and support units. These activities are expected to be completed by 2030.

"It is obvious that Poland and the Baltic countries are being purposefully turned into a military bridgehead for its possible use by NATO. Almost everything has been done to get the NATO leadership ready for a decision to use military force, including extreme military force," the head of state said.

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