ArmInfo.NATO has always sought to contribute to the deepening of disagreements in the CSTO, including through Armenia. Alexey Avdonin, an analyst at the Belarusian Institute for Strategic Research (BISR) stated on January 19 at the expert platform of the Analytical Center for Strategic Studies and Initiatives (ACSSI) during an online discussion on the topic: "Foreign policy of Belarus: Minsk's priorities in the EAEU and CSTO."
According to him, the latest situation around Armenia is a vivid example of what he said. Avdonin stated that after the Armenian authorities refused to take part in the next CSTO summit in Minsk, Western analysts began to aggravate this situation as a favorable condition for sowing discord in the Organization. The analyst added that the West is interested in sowing discord and disagreement in the CSTO, because they believe that under such conditions, and in the event of an aggravation of the situation on the eastern borders of Belarus, the Organization will not be able to help Minsk. "Therefore, the goal of the collective West, represented by NATO, is to contribute to sow discord and disagreement in the CSTO," the analyst said.
"And in these realities, the CSTO is a military alliance that, in the event of a conflict, can oppose the North Atlantic Alliance. It is no coincidence that Belarus signed a separate agreement with CSTO. It is to some extent a deterrent, since everyone understands the consequences of the use of tactical nuclear weapons," - said the analyst, who noted that it is no secret that Belarus does not have sufficient forces and means to resist NATO forces.
According to him, thus, Belarus' participation in the CSTO is not offensive, but defensive in nature. "This is a tool for preserving peace and order in our region. Although, Minsk perfectly understands that Belarus in the form it is today is neither needed nor beneficial to the West. They need something like today's Ukraine," Avdonin said.
At the same time, the Belarusian analyst did not give a clear answer to the question why the CSTO countries, including Belarus, do not show an adequate reaction to NATO's entry into the South Caucasus through the "hands" of Azerbaijan, although they react painfully to the emergence of the Alliance in other CIS countries.
The analyst did not touch on this topic, but only noted that the President of Belarus communicates directly with both the leader of Armenia and the leader of Azerbaijan. "Of course, in the current realities, it is difficult for Belarus to maintain a balance. However, the President of our country, Alexander Lukashenko, has repeatedly said that he adheres to the position of maintaining dialogue with post-Soviet countries, especially in the presence of this global turbulence," he noted.
"The creeping nature of NATO is no secret to anyone. And all of us post-Soviet countries are faced with the most terrible NATO ideology, which is generated by the Anglo-Saxons. We must resist this," Avdonin concluded.