Russia plans more aircraft, helicopters at airbase in Belarus — defense minister

[Hindustani78]

https://sputniknews.com/military/201702041050340236-belarus-russia-su-30sm/

MINSK (Sputnik) — In November 2016, Belarusian Air Force and Air Defense Commander Maj. Gen. Oleg Dvigalyov stated that the country planned to buy at least a squadron of Russia’s new generation Su-30SM aircraft by 2020.

"In 2017, the purchase of Su-30SM airplanes is planned," Lotenkov said in the interview with the Belarusian Military Newspaper.

The Su-30SM, commissioned in 2013-2014, is a two-seat derivative of the Su-27UB jet which is capable of air-to-air and air-to-ground strikes. It can be equipped with a wide variety of precision-guided munitions.

"In the last year, over 250 new types of weapons and military hardware have been purchased for the needs of the Armed Forces — Yakovlev Yak-130 combat training aircraft, transport and combat Mil Mi-8 helicopters, radio monitoring systems, a Polonaise Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), Protivnik GE radar, Vostok D radar, a Tor-M2 missile system, a Rosa-RB MLRS, a P-270 Moskit and so on," Lotenkov stressed.

He added that the purchase of radio monitoring systems, 120-mm caliber 2B23 NONA-M1 mortars, unmanned aircraft systems, and the modernization of the BTR-70MB1 were planned for 2017.

The deputy minister noted that Mil Mi-24 and Mil Mi-8 helicopters, the Ilyushin Il-76 airlifter, as well as T-72 and BMP-2 tanks were to be repaired and T-72BM1 tanks were due to undergo further modernization. Joint work is also expected to be conducted with the economy's defense sector, in order to transfer different types of multiple rocket launchers to Belarusian-produced chassis.

http://tass.com/world/928883

MOSCOW, February 3. /TASS/. Belarus does not think it is appropriate to establish a Russian military base in Bobruisk, Belarusian President, Alexander Lukashenko, said at a meeting with representatives of the public and reporters.

"Is this base necessary from a military point of view? We do not need it here. This base and the aircraft they (Russia - TASS) want to deploy here, all this is a demonstration," he said.


According to Lukashenko, it would be appropriate to transfer Russian military aircraft to Belarus instead of building a new air base. "We have excellent pilots, we have an excellent school. You know that we can operate military aircraft no worse than Russian pilots. Give us 20 aircraft, after all, we have a joint force," the Belarusian leader noted.

In September 2015, Russian President Vladimir Putin tasked the Russian Defense Ministry and the Russian Foreign Ministry with holding talks with Minsk to sign a draft agreement between the two countries on establishing a Russian air base in Belarus. Russian government officials earlier noted that the agreement would contribute to the joint protection of the Union State’s border in the airspace and the formation of the Russian-Belarusian regional air defense system.

In June 2016, Russian Presidential Spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said there are concrete plans to deploy a Russian air base to Belarus.

 

[Hindustani78]

15:57
MIKOYAN MIG-29 CRASHES IN BOBRUISK, NO CASUALTIES - BELARUSIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY

11:06
NATO forces' relocation is no direct threat so far, yet Minsk has to take precautions - Belarusian defense minister

10:50
Belarus-Russia West 2017 drills defensive, pose no threat to Belarusian sovereignty - Minsk

 

[Hindustani78]

https://sputniknews.com/military/201702251051034781-russia-belarus-drills/


In September, Russia and Belarus will hold a large-scale military exercise dubbed Zapad-2017 (West-2017). The Zapad drills are a quadrennial joint exercise and were held for the last time in 2013. However, this year’s drills are regarded by many in Belarus and Europe as a "threat."

Concerns about the Zapad-2017 drills stem mostly from the scope of the upcoming war-game. According to the Russian and Belarusian Defense Ministries, during the drills Russia will send a major military force to Belarus.

However, the defense ministries do not provide exact numbers.
The main of the drills is to check the combat readiness of the regional group of forces and to test its military hardware.

The Zapad drills are held every four years at Russian and Belarusian military ranges and include operative personnel and equipment deployment activities.

Judging by the Zapad-2013 drills, the 2017 maneuvers are expected to be a truly large-scale exercise. In 2013, 10,000 Russian and Belarusian personnel were involved in the drills.

Russian Troops Will Come and Go

During the Zapad-2013 exercise, some 2,500 Russian troops were deployed to Belarus. Today, the pro-opposition wing of the Belarusian elite fears that this year Russia plans a large-scale deployment of troops with the view of further occupation (or preparing for occupation) of Belarus.

Recently, Anatoly Lebedko, leader of the United Civic Party of Belarus, said that Belarusian politicians and citizens allegedly wondered whether the Russian forces will return to Russia or not after the drills.

"Many are concerned, not because they will come, but because they may not leave. I think not only ordinary people are concerned, but also [Belarusian President] Alexander Lukashenko. He looks worried," Lebedko said.

The same concerns were also expressed by Alexei Janukevich, the leader of the Belarusian Popular Front opposition party (BPF Party). On February 4, the party announced a public campaign against the drills. On February 13, BPF activists launched collection of signatures, calling on the government to prevent deployment of Russian troops.

In turn, President Lukashenko said all allegations about Russia's plans to occupy Belarus make no sense.

"Russian troops involved in the drills will be deployed in Belarus and after the drills they will return to Russia just the same way. Russia will never occupy Belarus," Lukashenko said on February 3.

In a television interview on February 23, Belarusian Defense Minister Andrey Ravkov said: "The hysteria recently whipped up by separate 'experts' about Russian military occupation of Belarus is nothing but an attempt by some marginal forces to win political gains by speculating on the issue of Moscow- Minsk relations."

According to the minister, the Zapad-2017 drills pose no threat to Belarus’ national sovereignty.

"The goals of the drills, the areas of deployment and the number of personnel, everything is coordinated with Minsk. All troops movements are also controlled by Belarus," Ravkov underscored.

'Preparations for War'

Despite a reserved reaction from NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, certain leaders have considered the exercise as a negative move.

For example, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite described the drills as "preparations for war with the West."

"We’re seeing different threats, and they are rising. In particular, we are concerned about the Zapad-2017 drills which will concentrate various aggressive forces. Demonstrative preparations for war with the West are underway," she said.

Moreover, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko suggested that Lukashenko would not agree on a large-scale deployment of Russian troops because the Belarusian president does not want to mar relations with Kiev.

"The Kremlin is mounting pressure on Belarus. However, I’m sure that Lukashenko will not let anyone use Belarus’ territory for hostile actions against Ukraine," Poroshenko said aid at a meeting of the leadership of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on February 22.

In turn, Minks has repeatedly underscored that Western countries should not regard the Zapad-2017 drills as a challenge or threat.

"Everyone who wants to make sure that we’re not going to attack anyone will be invited [to the drills]. It’s absurd to suppose that Belarus can be an aggressor. Our posture is defensive," the president said.

West Cannot Deal With Russia-Belarus Military Alliance

Commentators note that concerns about the upcoming drills stem from a remark by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. On November 2, 2016, during a meeting with Belarusian counterpart Ravkov, Shoigu expressed discontent with the expansion of NATO infrastructure in Eastern Europe.

"Such moves undermine the strategic stability and force Russia to take responsive measures in defense," Shoigu said.

According to him, the Zapad-2017 drills will be a response to the alliance’s hostile actions.

A month later, Deutsche Well reported that that Moscow was pressuring Minsk and the 2017 maneuvers in Belarus would be unprecedented in scope. According to the report, the Russian Defense Ministry would use 4,126 railway cars to deploy troops and personnel involved in the drills.

However, later the Russian Defense Ministry said that the number of railway cars engaged for the Zapad-2017 exercise will be comparable to the numbers from the previous years, including over 6,000 for the Zapad-2009 drills and some 2,500 for the Zapad-2013 drills.

According to military expert Vadim Soloviev, the media will continue to stoke hysteria over the exercise.

"We will see a lot of articles and reports containing groundless conclusions about preparations to occupy Belarus, Ukraine and other countries. It cannot be ruled out that journalists will draw inspiration from statements by officials," Soloviev told RT.

According to the analyst, the goal of this "disinformation campaign" is to drive a wedge between Moscow and Minsk.

"The West is not interested in a close military alliance between Russia and Belarus. But they don’t know how to deal with it. So, they have launched an information campaign," he concluded.

 

[Hindustani78]

Drills involving live fire of Smerch multiple-launch rocket systems in western Belarus (file)

 

[Hindustani78]

https://sputniknews.com/military/201703131051531024-russia-belarus-military-drills/

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — He also reiterated that NATO would welcome any invitation from Russia to observe the Zapad-2017 drills.

"The important thing is that exercises are conducted in a way which does not increase tensions, which does not lead to misunderstanding and which is fully in compliance with our international obligations — for instance, in compliance with the Vienna document," Stoltenberg told reporters when unveiling the alliance's 2016 annual report.

In early November 2016, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said joint Russian-Belarusian military drills dubbed Zapad-2017 ("West-2017") would be carried out in September 2017. Moscow has repeatedly stressed that it would never attack any of NATO member states.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/410249.html

Belarus has no intention to curtail military cooperation with Russia because of disagreements in other areas, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said.

"Let me say this specially for the mass media: no one is going to curtail military cooperation with Russia because of disagreements in other fields, no matter what some 'experts' may think," the BelTA state-run news agency quoted Lukashenko as saying in his report on the concept of the West-2017 Belarusian-Russian strategic military exercises.

"On the contrary, the exercises demonstrate our consistency in providing unwavering security for the two fraternal peoples," he said.

"No matter what our relations may be in the field of oil, gas, food and so on, these problems can be resolved. These are our problems, those of Belarus and Russia. But we have to be dead serious about security and defense capacities on our common borders. This cannot be a bargaining chip," he said.

Russia and Belarus have created a powerful group of forces in the Western sector, and the Belarusian army is its backbone, Lukashenko said. "In case of a conflict or, God forbid, a war, we have a certain plan of the hostilities to be conducted by the Belarusian Armed Forces, which will be immediately reinforced by relevant Russian forces. We have never made this a secret and we openly say that we should keep our gunpowder dry even in peacetime," the president said.

MINSK (Sputnik) — The joint Russian-Belarusian military exercises dubbed Zapad 2017 (West 2017) are scheduled to be held on September 14-20, Belarusian Defense Minister Andrei Ravkov said Monday.

"It is planned that the Zapad-2017 exercise will be held from September 14 to September 20," Ravkov said as quoted by the BelTA news service.

He noted that the drills would involve around 3,000 Russian troops, 280 pieces of hardware and up to 25 Russian aircraft.

Zapad 2017 would activate seven ranges and stretch from the Kola Peninsula in Russia's far northwest to Belarus, Ravkov added.

 

[Robin Wong]

Unfortunately Putin will drag Belarus into stand off with Europe and Usa . No growing awaits them , just old Russian style poverty .

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/politics/183...s-preparing-armed-provocation-in-belarus.html

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko announces the militants who had been preparing to stage an armed provocation have been apprehended in Belarus, BelTA has learned.


When asked about possible reasons behind the more active operation of the so-called fifth column and various opposition bodies lately, Lukashenko said: "It turned out that some of them have not been idle. They have been making preparations and biding their time," BelTA reported. "They have not been idle at all. We have already apprehended dozens of them, who have been training with weapons in camps. They are not the masked anarchists that have been apprehended in public transport.

By the way, one of the camps was located near Bobruisk and Osipovichi. The other camps are located in Ukraine. I think some of them are located in Lithuania or Poland. I am not sure exactly but somewhere over there," Lukashenko said as he talked to Kronospan Company workers in Mogilev on March 21.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/410855.html

Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) has asked Belarusian law-enforcement authorities for information about the arrest of militants who supposedly trained in camps located in Ukraine, as stated by Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko.

During his briefing in Wednesday in Kyiv the head of the SBU's staff, Oleksandr Tkachuk, said the SBU sent a request to Belarusian authorities about the matter.

"We are waiting for an answer from our colleagues," he added.

As for information about the alleged militants crossing the Ukraine-Belarus border, this has not been confirmed.

"As far as I know, information which was spread in media about an incursion from Ukrainian territory by some means of transportation in the direction of the Belarusian border has not been confirmed," Tkachuk said, adding that no such reports were filed by Ukrainian border troops.

Lukashenko earlier declared the detainment of "several dozen militants" who were preparing to stage an armed provocation. He said most of them trained in camps located in Ukraine.

*************************

http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/410920.html

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has refuted the statements by the Belarusian leadership alleging that militants were prepared on the territory of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry in a comment issued on Wednesday by its press service notes that such statements "are provocative and harmful to the development of good neighborly relations between Ukraine and Belarus."

"We would like to stress that it is Belarus' partner in the Union State - the Russian Federation – which as part of its hybrid aggression set up training camps for mercenaries and militants both on its territory and in the occupied parts of Ukraine. Through supporting and exporting terrorism, Russia is purposefully undermining stability and security in the region, which includes both Ukraine and Belarus," the comment reads.

Kyiv also said that Ukraine handed over to the UN International Court of Justice abundant evidence of support and financing of terrorism by Russia in the occupied territory of Ukraine.

"We are ready for close international cooperation in countering any manifestations of terrorism, including together with Belarus," the comment said.

As reported, on March 21, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said several dozen militants have been detained on suspicion of plotting armed acts of provocation, some of them were trained in Ukraine. "We have already detained several dozen people drilling with weapons in camps. By the way, one of those camps was situated in the area of Bobruisk and Osipovichi. The other camps were located in Ukraine [and], it seems to me, in Lithuania or Poland - I won't insist on this, but somewhere there. The money was coming here via Poland and Lithuania. Just a few hours ago, we apprehended a couple of dozen militants plotting an armed provocation," the BelTA state-run news agency quoted Lukashenko as saying during a working trip to the Mogilyov region.

 

[Hindustani78]

**************

Belarus Military Parade

https://sputniknews.com/military/201703301052112884-russia-base-belarus/

MINSK (Sputnik) — Russia announced its plans to open a new air base in Belarus in 2014, with up to 24 jets to be deployed in Babruysk.

Minsk claimed that such a decision would make the country a greater target for NATO, proposing instead to deploy the aircraft without Russian pilots, or accepting at least a temporary, rotational Russian presence.

"It [the base deployment issue] has never been raised. No military base may be deployed on the territory of another country, including Belarus, without an intergovernmental agreement. There is no such agreement," Surikov told reporters.

In February, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko proposed Russia to provide Minsk with 20 aircraft instead of creating a military base on its territory.

 

[Hindustani78]

Belarusian Paratroopers arrive for Zapad 2013

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Russia should open its bases in Venezuella, Cuba
Block the Panama Canal if possible

A reasonable area to construct future air/SAM bases or park few destroyers

I believe Mexico needs a new trade partner
I think people of Mexico will open up to Russia

While America is on a special mission to Syria , park few Russian Destroyers near mexico on good will visit


May be Russia can send some Wall builders to Mexico , and while the wall builders are there they will need 2-3 Russian Military bases to help protect their workers while the wall is being constructed

2 Military bases in Mexico and 1 in Venezuala or 2 in Cuba should be sufficient

It would be proper if Russia provides security to Contractors who will build wall along the Mexican border and also for Engineer that are helping improve infrastructure projects in Cuba and Venezuela

Hopefully no one will object to Russia providing security for its Engineers in Mexico , Venezuela or Cuba

And ocassional 2-3 destroyers may visit these countries for Good will visits

 

[Hindustani78]

13:16
Lukashenko calls for bolstering Belarus-China cooperation in war on crime

15:16
Aliyev considers extradition of blogger Lapshin from Belarus success of Azerbaijan's foreign policy

 

[Penguin]

Russia should open its bases in Venezuella, Cuba

What Russian bases?
Venezuela: none at present, none in the past.
Cuba: Lourdes SIGINT Station was closed in 2002. No other Russian bases past or present.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Russian_military_bases_abroad#Current_bases
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_with_overseas_military_bases#Russia

I believe Mexico needs a new trade partner
I think people of Mexico will open up to Russia

Below is a list showcasing 15 of Mexico’s top trading partners in terms of its export sales. That is, countries that imported the most Mexican shipments by dollar value during 2016. Also shown is each import country’s percentage of total Mexican exports.

1. United States: US$303 billion (81% of total Mexican exports)
2. Canada: $10.4 billion (2.8%)
3. China: $5.4 billion (1.4%)
4. Germany: $4 billion (1.1%)
5. Japan: $3.8 billion (1%)
6. Spain: $3.3 billion (0.9%)
7. United Kingdom: $3.2 billion (0.9%)
8. Colombia: $3.1 billion (0.8%)
9. Brazil: $3.1 billion (0.8%)
10. South Korea: $2.5 billion (0.7%)
11. India: $2 billion (0.5%)
12. France: $2 billion (0.5%)
13. Chile: $1.7 billion (0.5%)
14. Guatemala: $1.7 billion (0.5%)
15. Netherlands: $1.6 billion (0.4%)

Over nine-tenths (93.8%) of Mexican exports in 2016 were delivered to the above 15 trade partners.

A country whose total value of all imported goods is higher than its value of all exports is said to have a negative trade balance or deficit. Overall, Mexico posted a -$13.2 billion trade deficit in 2016 up from a -$4.7 billion product trade deficit for 2009.

In 2016, Mexico incurred the highest trade deficits with the following countries:

1. China: -US$64.1 billion (country-specific trade deficit in 2016)
2. Japan: -$14 billion
3. South Korea: -$11.1 billion
4. Germany: -$9.9 billion
5. Malaysia: -$7.7 billion
6. Taiwan: -$6.6 billion
7. Thailand: -$4.9 billion
8. Italy: -$3.7 billion
9. Vietnam: -$3 billion
10. India: -$2.2 billion

Among Mexico’s trading partners that cause the greatest negative trade balances, Mexican deficits with India (up 7,946%), Vietnam (up 480.7%) and Thailand (up 161.8%) grew at the fastest pace from 2009 to 2016.

A country whose total value of all imported goods is lower than its value of all exports is said to have a positive trade balance or surplus.

In 2016, Mexico incurred the highest trade surpluses with the following countries:

1. United States: US$123 billion (country-specific trade surplus in 2016)
2. Colombia: $2 billion
3. Guatemala: $1.2 billion
4. United Kingdom: $1.1 billion
5. Panama: $848 million
6. Peru: $847.4 million
7. Canada: $796.3 million
8. Dominican Republic: $759.2 million
9. Costa Rica: $524.4 million
10. Argentina: $511.9 million

Among Mexico’s trading partners that cause the greatest positive trade balances, Mexicon surpluses with Peru (up 267.5%), Dominican Republic (up 92.5%) and Guatemala (up 77.3%) grew at the fastest pace from 2009 to 2016.

http://www.worldstopexports.com/mexicos-top-import-partners/
http://atlas.media.mit.edu/nl/profile/country/mex/

2 Military bases in Mexico and 1 in Venezuala or 2 in Cuba should be sufficient

A base in Venezuala, if intended, would meet with still opposition from Brazil, a country that has also withstood US efforts to open bases in the region. Besides, situation there isn't exactly stable.
http://en.news-original.ru/russian-military-base-in-venezuela.html

Cuba had a Russian intelligence station, no military bases (naval or otherwise). Not going to happen.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lourdes_SIGINT_Station

Mexico. Well, while Mexico is Russia's third biggest trading partner in Latin America, you did notice the total absense of Russia in the above? In 2014, two-way trade between both nations totaled $1,784 billion USD. That's about what the Netherlands IMPORTS from Mexico.

Besides, don't forget about the OAS ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organization_of_American_States )

In the mid-1930s, U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt organized an inter-American conference in Buenos Aires. One of the items at the conference was a "League of Nations of the Americas", an idea proposed by Colombia, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic. At the subsequent Inter-American Conference for the Maintenance of Peace, 21 nations pledged to remain neutral in the event of a conflict between any two members. The experience of World War II convinced hemispheric governments that unilateral action could not ensure the territorial integrity of the American nations in the event of external aggression. To meet the challenges of global conflict in the postwar world and to contain conflicts within the hemisphere, they adopted a system of collective security, the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (Rio Treaty) signed in 1947 in Rio de Janeiro.
The Ninth International Conference of American States was held in Bogotá between March and May 1948 and led by United States Secretary of State George Marshall, a meeting which led to a pledge by members to fight communism in the western hemisphere. This was the event that saw the birth of the OAS as it stands today, with the signature by 21 American countries of the Charter of the Organization of American States on 30 April 1948 (in effect since December 1951). The meeting also adopted the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man, the world's first general human rights instrument.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

What mexico gets 303 Billion from USA for Tacos ?
What the hell ?

That sure is a suprise did not know they made 300 Billion off USA alone , lot of cash