The regional force grouping of the Union State of Belarus and Russia is a purely defensive project, BelTA learned from Deputy Chief for Science of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus, Colonel Viktor Tumar. The Belarusian Defense Ministry quoted Viktor Tumar as saying: “For a number of years we've been watching NATO countries building up their military potential near our borders. Military infrastructure in Poland and the Baltic states is being improved,...

The military recruiting events in Belarus have an absolutely routine nature, State Secretary of the Security Council Aleksandr Volfovich said at a briefing on ongoing military and political developments in Belarus and abroad for employees of the Belarusian potash producer Belaruskali on 13 October, BelTA has learned. Upon the instruction of the head of state, representatives of law enforcement, security agencies and the military meet with labor collectives throughout the country....

Belarus is studying the possibilities of entering the market of Afghanistan, Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei told the media in Dushanbe on 12 October, BelTA has learned. “We had a fairly high level of cooperation with Afghanistan in the past years. We supplied equipment to Afghanistan and exchanged visits within the frames of the political dialogue. Unfortunately, there is a pause at this stage, but we are interested in having and developing trade and economic...

A regular session of the Committee of Chiefs of Staffs of the Armed Forces of the member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan on 12 October, the Belarusian Defense Ministry told BelTA. A Belarusian army delegation led by Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, First Deputy Defense Minister Viktor Gulevich will take part in the session.

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko will visit foreign countries on 11-14 October, the press service of the Belarusian leader told BelTA. An official visit to Tajikistan will take place on 11-12 October. In Dushanbe Aleksandr Lukashenko will have private negotiations with Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon and negotiations involving members of the delegations. The sides will discuss the expansion of cooperation, primarily cooperation in trade and economy, and the realization of...

In January-August 2022 Belarus' export of merchandise and services dropped by 4% year-on-year to $29.319 billion, BelTA learned from the website of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus (NBRB). In January-August 2022 Belarus' foreign trade totaled $55.172 billion, 5.9% down from January-August 2021. Import amounted to $25.853 billion (8% down). Surplus of foreign trade in goods and services equaled $3.465 billion, up from $2.427 billion in January-August 2021. Belarus'...