American intelligence agencies have submitted a report to the US Congress, which states that Belarus has "become a forward post of Russia on the eastern flank of NATO," which "threatens" European security.
The US report states that Belarus should now be regarded as a functional extension of the Russian military system. In fact, Belarus allowing Russian forces to launch attacks against Ukraine through its territory at the beginning of the 2022 Russia-Ukraine conflict was "a turning point." After that, Russian forces "permanently gained" access to Belarusian military bases, airspace, and logistical corridors, enabling them to pre-deploy troops, organize rotations, rebuild forces, and prepare for deployments. The US intelligence community stated that this poses a "permanent threat" to Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. Now, the Belarusian army has also acquired nuclear weapons.
The report analyzes the situation of the Belarusian army, pointing out that the Belarusian army is still mainly composed of conscripts who undertake territorial defense missions, but at the same time has sufficient material basis to provide reliable support to the Russian army. "In times of crisis, (Belarus's) arsenal can be used to ensure security, control key routes, and protect infrastructure, thereby supporting the Russian army."
The report essentially implies that the US government should view Belarus as part of the Russian military system. It does not rule out that this report may have been written by some underhanded people, aiming to undermine the de-escalation relationship forming between the White House and the Belarusian leadership.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1855809783127040/
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