MOSCOW – Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said he finds the creation of a Russian military airbase in the territory of Belarus to be inexpedient.
“They are saying a military base. I am hearing that in Russia. Give me a break, who needs these ten planes that Russia wanted to land […] in Bobruisk. I say to Putin: we need to rebuild this aerodrome, half of the runway has already been disassembled there. What is the use of ten planes? Give me 20 planes, we have excellent pilots, an excellent school, you know we fight in military planes just as well. We are one grouping. No, Shoigu wanted that,” Lukashenko said on Feb. 3, while answering questions at the Big Conversation with the President.
Asking a rhetorical question as to what this military base gives, Lukashenko said: “What is, for example, a plane in today’s war against NATO? Ten minutes of fighting – it took off and it is gone. The war is different today. One can [only] fly in Syria when there is no air defense system.”
“What is an aerodrome on the frontline of the theater of war. God forbid there is a war, two rockets on a runway and no plane will take off. Why are they [planes] needed here [at the aerodrome]? Therefore, what’s the use of this base from a military viewpoint?” Lukashenko said.
The Belarusian president said he believes Russia’s proposal to create a military base in Belarus “is not a military proposal.”
“And what kind [of a proposal]? Think yourself,” Lukashenko said.
He said Belarus is ready to conduct the traditional Russian-Belarusian training exercise ‘West’ in its territory.
“The training [West 2017] will take place if Russia is interested in that. We will host this training. It will be an open training. We will invite everyone to show that we are not going to attack anyone, we don’t have such a purpose. God forbid we will become an aggressor against some country. It is, of course, unthinkable. Therefore, we only hold a defensive position,” Lukashenko said.
