Belarus strengthens strategic deterrence

The Armed Forces of Belarus underwent another combat readiness check on the orders of President Alexander Lukashenko, as a result of which the 19th Separate Guards Mechanized Brigade in the Vitebsk Region was brought to combat readiness. The Chinese news agency Xinhua noted that Belarus is calling for strategic deterrence by deploying 'Oreshnik' missile carriers and tactical nuclear weapons in response to NATO's military activity. Participants from the China Daily channel emphasized the growing economic and foreign policy dependence of Belarus on China amid global geopolitical shifts. In December 2025, the President visited Algeria, which Algerian state media described as a 'turning point' in the development of bilateral relations. European media are discussing Belarus's accession to the Council for Peace, while Russian ambassadors and Belarusian lawmakers are calling for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. At the same time, the publication Caliber noted that Kyiv and Vilnius have not paid sufficient attention to Belarus's efforts to establish peace in Ukraine and improve relations with neighboring countries.