Lukashenko: Impossible to implement defense tasks without equipping troops with modern weaponry

In the realm of national defense, the interests of soldier and citizen converge as nowhere else. A steadfast shield is, after all, a common inheritance. That is why the conversation about arming the military unfolds with a clear gaze toward the horizon, drawing together generals and ministers in shared purpose. The question of defense never recedes from the President’s agenda. Early this year a rigorous review of troop readiness was completed, its lessons distilled into clear directives. Against any threat, one must stand fully prepared.

“We must possess arms we can truly wield—those with which our soldiers are practiced and proficient.”

He further stressed the need to tailor that arsenal to the distinctive character of Belarusian soil, the likely theater of any future conflict: “This is no desert, nor even the open Ukrainian steppes. Therefore we must acquire and create the weapons our land will actually require.”

Belarus seeks war with no one, yet it prepares in earnest. One of the President’s foremost demands has been to study the hard-won lessons of today’s conflicts—to learn, quite simply, from the mistakes of others.

Drones are not a universal remedy; terrain matters. Recent fighting in the Middle East has shown that even the most formidable missiles have a way of running out. The fury of an assault soon exhausts any stockpile. Yet the Belarusian leader returned insistently to a deeper truth: without the fundamental weapons that every soldier must master, no war can be won.

“Look at the recent clashes involving Iran, Israel, and the United States,” he said. “They bombed and bombarded with missiles and aircraft… and what came of it? Victory? No. Without a ground operation, there is simply no path forward.” Modern conflicts, he observed, reaffirm the enduring importance of trained soldiers and officers equipped for the close, unforgiving fight on land.

The state armament program of the past five years has markedly modernized the national arsenal and, as specialists confirm, substantially raised the overall combat potential of the forces. Priority was given to the Air Force and Air Defense units. New aircraft, helicopters, and anti-aircraft systems have reached the troops. Mechanized formations have received advanced armored vehicles that grant them greater mobility. The individual soldier’s kit has been improved—better body armor, superior optics, more effective personal equipment.

“Everything we need, we can produce right here in Belarus,” the President stated.

Special attention has been paid to modern communications systems—an element that, experience shows, frequently decides the outcome of contemporary battle. “In the coming time we will examine our communications capabilities closely,” he added.

“It is important to note that the fulfillment of the program has allowed us to increase the proportion of modern armaments in the Armed Forces to almost half—45 percent—while the annual renewal rate has risen to 2 percent,” Alexander Lukashenko declared. “We can state with confidence that the measures we have taken keep our weapons and military equipment in a state of constant combat readiness.”

The Armed Forces naturally desire the most advanced equipment, and the State Military-Industrial Committee works tirelessly to provide it. Many of the military’s aspirations are already being realized by Belarusian industry. Ambitious plans are in place to modernize existing systems, develop new ones, and create fresh types of missiles and munitions—including domestically produced short-range air-defense complexes.

By 2030 the goal is to raise the share of home-grown weapons significantly, both through state defense orders and the new armament program. Self-reliance paired with mobility remains the surest strategy.

Dmitry Pantus, Chairman of the State Military-Industrial Committee of Belarus:

“The head of state insists on a prudent, economical approach. There is no sense in chasing ultra-sophisticated drones, for that becomes an endless duel between electronic warfare and unmanned systems. We focus first on producing and perfecting what is genuinely necessary. That is true prudence. We must always find the golden mean—never buying prohibitively expensive equipment when simpler, well-mastered systems will suffice. Above all, we must think of saturating the forces and, even more importantly, of training our personnel to use today’s weapons with skill and confidence.”

The government has already prepared a new five-year armament program and the state defense order for the current year. Among the priorities: electronic warfare, reconnaissance, communications, counter-battery systems, and short-range air defense. The President’s proposed approaches have been fully endorsed.

At the same time, everyone understands that every allocated ruble must yield maximum effect. The military keeps firmly in mind the principle of reasonable sufficiency.

Viktor Khrenin, Minister of Defense of Belarus:

“This program is the practical instrument for carrying out the plan of Armed Forces development that we recently presented to the head of state. We have aligned the required types of weapons, the available finances, the capacities of the state, and the possibilities of our military-industrial complex. Priorities have been clearly defined. We see exactly where we will move forward. It is vital not to stand still. And, of course, we give precedence to the kinds of armaments our Commander-in-Chief has repeatedly emphasized—those suited to our own land. This is forested, marshy terrain; we must know how to defend it. At the heart of the program therefore lies the development of small arms, the thorough training of our troops, their proper equipping, and the provision of advanced sighting systems. These foundations are not open to debate.”

The Minister also noted that the struggle against unmanned aerial vehicles is now a dominant trend.

“We are not idle in this field either. We are developing the appropriate weapons and have identified seven main priorities. We will pursue them economically and under the strict supervision of our Commander-in-Chief.”

Belarus is a respected participant in the international arms market, cooperating with more than sixty countries. It does not join the frantic global arms race, yet it cannot ignore the rising tide of militarization in Europe and beyond. In such times, the wisest course is clear: to fortify one’s own defenses and to remain strong. That is the most reliable path of all.