Lukashenka threatens Lithuania with asymmetrical response to American 'armored fist'
On October 27, Alyaksandr Lukashenka held a meeting with State Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus Stanislau Zas, Defense Minister of Belarus Andrei Raukou and Chief of General Intelligence Directorate of the Armed Forces Pavel Tsikhanau.
The main topic of the conversation was the “armored fist,” located in Lithuania, 15 km from the Belarusian border, BelTA informs.
“One shouldn’t belittle the importance. But 30 tanks and 30 armored vehicles are ridiculous against the Belarusian army,” said the head of state.
According to him, taking into account the modernization of the Belarusian army, one may “not even move a finger” to resist the Americans.
However, Lukashenka stressed that the Belarusian authorities “simply have to respond to such demonstrations”.
Head of Belarus added that he had been following the statements of “politicians, journalists, bloggers and charlatans”. According to him, Belarus can cope with the U.S. brigade with “mobile landing and assault units that perform the relevant functions”.
“Therefore, one should not urge the whole world to stand up for Belarus. We can protect ourselves,” he stressed.
Alyaksandr Lukashenka added that in no case should there be “any rattling of weapons”.
“But the Americans should understand: God forbid there was a confrontation, we (the military people) will not look at the passports. Those who will fight against us — be it Americans, Lithuanians, Germans or someone else … We will not look at the passports,” said President of Belarus.
He also warned the Lithuanian politicians and the leadership of the neighboring country that they were considering various options for responding to the U.S. troops in Lithuania and future exercises. At the same time, Lukashenka threatened to answer the official Vilnius in the asymmetrical way, too.
More than half a thousand American soldiers will reside near the Lithuanian military training ground in Pabradė, which is 15 km from the Belarusian-Lithuanian border. The U.S. battalion will be stationed there until spring 2020.
