Lukashenka: Give us 24 fighter jets, we'll put there our best pilots
Answering questions from journalists at a polling station, Lukashenka once again commented on the issue of possible deployment of Russian military bases on the territory of Belarus.
You know, we do not need any bases. We not only built the Union State with Russia, but we are now in the CSTO. This is a political-military alliance. Within the framework of the CSTO, we have distributed areas of responsibility. We are located in the west. We are in direct contact with the structures of the North Atlantic alliance. We do not want to fight, we have always said it, but we keep the powder dry. Based on this, since you are in front of the process, we have built an adequate policy. In this regard, in the framework of the CSTO and especially the union state, we have concluded an agreement with Russia, and with it many contracts to ensure our economic, political and military stability.
I remind you, that's no secret. We are here in the western direction, along with the Russian Federation, have established an adequate military force. Its basis is the Belarusian army. Seventy thousand bayonets today. It is constantly being improved, modernized.
We are looking at what methods are used in Syria and Iraq war. We are making the appropriate conclusions to adapt our armed forces to these conflicts. Last time we did it after the Ukrainian conflict.
If, God forbid, NATO and Russia have a conflict, the Belarusian army will primarily solve the problem with its armed forces. Within a few days we will be supported by the Russian forces. Thus, heaven preserve us, and Latvians as well, from fighting this time. I do not want to fight, but if we have to, we will fight here in the Belarusian land until we die.
Tell me, to ensure these conditions today, do we need some kind of base, especially the Air Force base?
What will the planes that will be relocated and put in our airfield change? What will they matter? We do not need it now. We need an anti-aircraft defense system. That is the main thing for Belarus.
We once had to stop working on this. I put the question to the Russians. I asked the Russians to give us a C-300, which you have removed from service and replaced with the C-400. They did not do it. We bought them. And our guys upgraded them entirely and covered all the directions. But if had been reinforced by Russian missile weapons, we would not have to spend so much money.
Today, we are working on other systems that make it impossible to wage war against Belarus.
Planes, even if it is a regiment, they will not cool the hot heads of NATO. If Russia agrees to pass us these planes, tomorrow they will have the best pilots of the Belarusian armed forces using them.
The issue will be treated clearly: give us 24 planes, or sell them. It is also an option. I have no doubt that Russia is ready and has the money to create this base. This is big money.
What problem does this base solve. What is the difference, if the planes fly up from the airport in Babruisk or Pskov, or from Smolensk. Or even from Moscow. What's the difference? 500 km is not a significant distance for interceptor aircraft.
Photo: president.gov.by
