Recently was published the law approving the Military doctrine of the Republic of Belarus” signed by President Alexander Lukashenko. At the stage of preparation of the law has caused sharp comments among CSTO allies.
Information hybrid
As officially stated, the new military doctrine of Belarus was a response to the challenges of recent times — the growth of international tension and “color revolutions.” From the old doctrine of the new defense concept has a more detailed analysis of the reasons for the modern military-political crisis, which called the formation of a multipolar world and the competition for markets and natural resources. The act also details more take into account modern technologies of destabilization — information and psychological warfare, the creation of hotbeds of instability through acts of sabotage and extremist organizations. In this regard, prescribed in the new military doctrine and the response of the Belarusian state.
However, all of these characteristics can awaken more interest among experts. In public space the new doctrine caused a reaction after some media reported: it does not allow the Belarusian army to act outside the Republic of Belarus.
In particular, the law sees Sputnik.by: “the doctrine also stipulates the prohibition of the Belarusian army to participate in operations abroad.” Naturally, the question arises, what is now Belarus will be performed by allied obligations to the partners in the collective security Treaty?
All the allies?
If we turn to the text of the document itself and not to its journalistic interpretations, there is no direct ban on the use of Belarusian troops abroad, it does not contain. Moreover, article 22.21 new law provides for the possibility of participation of Belarusian servicemen in peacekeeping operations under UN auspices. And article 34.1 and in other places clearly States that in the case of a regional or large-scale war, the Belarusian army is to repel an attack in the regional group of troops of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation, coalition forces of the States-members of CSTO. Belarus is firmly committed to participate in ensuring military security of the Union state of Russia and Belarus.
However, in contrast to the military doctrine of the Republic of Belarus, 2001, where in the “international” section, it was only about the commitment of Belarus to the collective security in Europe, the new act refers to both “good neighborly and mutually beneficial relations with the European Union” and “partnership” with NATO. The old Belarusian doctrine is considered a large-scale war is unlikely, preferring to prepare for regional wars or local conflicts. But military doctrine-2016 speaks of “expanding the spectrum of military threats” for Belarus.
But whence came the information on the prohibition of the Belarusian army to go beyond its territory? Error media? Or someone deliberately throws misinformation in full compliance with the technologies of information warfare, referred to in the doctrine?
It’s not so simple. In April 2016, when the draft law on the new military doctrine of the Republic of Belarus has just been discussed, Deputy Minister of foreign Affairs of Armenia Shavarsh Kocharyan criticized the contained restrictions on the use of armed forces of Belarus abroad. Because the CSTO Charter prescribes that the armed forces of participating countries to come to the defense of any state that is included in the contract. According to news portal TUTU in April 2016, when the law was passed in the first reading, the Minister of defense of Belarus Andrei Ravkov have reported that the Belarusian army will not longer take part in military operations abroad. “This will never happen,” he said. According to Ravkov, the Belarusian President also talked about this.
The final version of the Law “On approval of the Military doctrine of the Republic of Belarus”, signed on the eve of Alexander Lukashenko, this situation does not contain. But, it seems, initially, to make a point about such a ban is still expected. In this case, Belarus would turn to a country that all the other CSTO member States would have to defend, but an obligation of the Belarusian army would be very limited.
Today, the commitment to the allied duty prevailed. But all these disputes around the new Belarusian military doctrine talking about the one in the sister Republic again intensified the forces who want to drive another wedge between Belarus and Russia. And they have already penetrated into different levels.
