Joint Board Session of Defence Ministries of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation takes place in Moscow
15 October 2025 08:35
Today, the Joint Board of Defence Ministries of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation held a session in Moscow with the participation of the heads of military departments of the two countries.
Opening the session, Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov noted that Russia and Belarus share a heroic past, common moral and cultural values, and one of the important events of this year was the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War.
'The Belarusian people know more than anyone how it was difficult to achieve the Victory. Our common task is to preserve the historical truth about the events of those years, vigorously denounce and suppress any manifestations of neo-Nazism, fascism, and extremism.
Andrei Belousov also stressed that now as 'the collective West waged a hybrid war, Russia-Belarusian cooperation is an example of good-neighbourly relations based on respect and mutual assistance. In the context of the special military operation, we attach particular importance to ensuring the military security of the Union State and strengthening its military-technical capabilities'.
The Russian Defence Minister noted that defence cooperation between Russia and Belarus is one of the key factors in maintaining regional stability in the face of NATO's blatantly hostile activities.
'The Alliance maintains a significant forward military presence on its eastern flank. It has intensified combat training and reconnaissance activities near the borders of our countries. It has intensified combat training and reconnaissance activities near the borders of our countries,' Andrei Belousov said.
He also added that the global security architecture continues to deteriorate. As a result of the West's destructive activities, the foundations of constructive dialogue between the nuclear-weapon states are on the downward path.
'On 5 February 2026, the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) expires. In order to prevent an uncontrolled growth of nuclear arsenals, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin announced that Russia is ready to continue to adhere to the central quantitative restrictions of the treaty for one year provided the United States adheres to it,' the Russian Defence Minister recalled.
Andrei Belousov said that together with the Belarusian side, the common defence area is being strengthened. Mutual deliveries of military products are carried out. Cooperation is being established between the defence industries of the two countries. Priority is given to increasing combat capabilities of the regional grouping of troops and the Joint Air Defence System of Russia and Belarus. More than 150 joint events are held every year, half of which are exercises and trainings. The culmination of this year was the Zapad 2025 joint strategic exercise.
Under the single plane of the Zapad 2025 exercise, Belarus hosted the CSTO manoeuvres with the participation of the Collective Rapid Reaction Forces, reconnaissance forces, and logistic support units.
In order to introduce the experience of the special military operation into the practice of training of Belarusian servicemen, a conference of combat training bodies of Russia and Belarus was held in Minsk on 27 and 28 May.
Two reinforced tank battalions and 49 instructors of the Armed Forces of Belarus have undergone various combat training actions at the joint training centre of motorised rifle and tank units in Nizhny Novgorod region this year.
'In order to continue the cooperation in the field of defence, we will now approve the Strategic Partnership Programme between the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation in the military sphere for the period of 2026-2030. In the future, we are going to develop a plan for its implementation,' the Russian Defence Minister said.
Andrei Belousov also emphasised that the level of military and military-technical cooperation has achieved makes it possible to quickly make joint decisions to neutralise the entire range of modern challenges and threats to the security of the two countries.
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In turn, the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Belarus Viktor Khrenin, speaking at a meeting of the Joint Board, noted that the strategic nature of relations between Russia and Belarus has been successfully implemented in the political, economic, scientific, cultural and other fields. However, military cooperation, within the framework of the common defence space, has a special place in this line.
'At the moment, the military and political situation in Europe is of conflict nature caused by clash of interests of the global centres of power. The Collective West is striving to preserve a unipolar world order based on the rules. The countries of Europe have headed for accelerated militarisation. They have taken unprecedented measures to boost military spending. They build up composition of forces and means along the border of the Union State. And increase their nuclear capabilities. Arsenals of tactical nuclear weapons are being modernised. A new, pan-European nuclear component is emerging, which is independent from the United States and NATO,' Viktor Khrenin said.
Under these conditions, in the opinion of the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Belarus, joint development of new effective models of interstate relations, coordination of foreign policy and strengthening of the defence capabilities of the Union State's military organisation are the main factor in ensuring the security of the member states.
'Over the years of our bilateral cooperation, significant results have been achieved. We can be sure of an exemplary level of interdepartmental cooperation. I would like to emphasise that there is a common position with Russian colleagues on the assessment of challenges and threats. We are improving joint military systems, which are tested at joint operational and combat training events,' the Defence Minister of the Republic of Belarus added.
Viktor Khrenin also recalled that this year, the Zapad 2025 joint strategic exercise of the armed forces of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation was successfully conducted; during the manoeuvres the high level of readiness of the military command bodies of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation for joint actions was demonstrated.
'I can't help but mention the cooperation in the military-technical field. Russia is our main supplier of military products,' the head of the Belarusian military department added.
Moreover, cooperation in the field of military training is successfully under way. Currently, more than 400 specialists in various specialisations are being trained in Russia in the interests of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus.
'There are, of course, few other areas of military cooperation in which we have achieved significant results, which over the years has made it possible to consider the interaction of our defence agencies dynamic. The Joint Board plays an important role in this, as a permanent advisory body that enables us to effectively consider issues of Belarus-Russia cooperation in the military sphere,' the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Belarus noted.
Viktor Khrenin also expressed confidence that today's constructive discussion of the issues to be considered will contribute to improving the current arrangements for ensuring the security of the Union State.
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At the end of the meeting, Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation Andrei Belousov noted that the event confirmed the readiness to jointly counter modern challenges and threats to military security. Important decisions have been taken that will contribute to the development of the military and technical capabilities of the Union State and to the cooperation of the defence departments of the two countries.
Operational and combat training stays one of the priority areas of the interaction. The bilateral military cooperation plan for 2026 includes 164 activities in various fields of activity. More than half of them involve practical actions in joint tasks.
The mutual benefit partnership including to equip the Belarusian Army with modern high-precision, high-tech weapons will continue.
'Today, we signed 14 documents including the Strategic Partnership Programme between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus in the military field for another five-year period Its implementation will allow the military authorities of our states to reach a higher level of the cooperation in all issues of ensuring the military security of Russia, Belarus, and the Union State as a whole,' the Russian Defence Minister concluded.
Summarising the results of the Board Session, Defence Minister of the Republic of Belarus Viktor Khrenin stressed that an objective assessment of the state of Belarusian-Russian bilateral cooperation was provided and specific tasks were identified, the modern solution of which would contribute to the further strengthening of the military security of the Union State.
I am pleased to note the high intensity of cooperation between our armed forces. I think it is important not to stop on the results achieved and to ensure the unconditional implementation of the planned activities. In my turn, I would like to point out that the Republic of Belarus will make every effort to ensure that the package of measures planned for the short and medium term today is carried out to the fullest extent possible and with the right quality,' the Defence Minister of the Republic of Belarus said.
Speaking of preserving the historical truth about the exploit of the Soviet soldiers, Viktor Khrenin noted that 'for Belarus, which lost a third of its population during this war, the Victory Day is a great sacred holiday. We are well aware of the price of this Victory, so we cherish the history'.
'Now it is more important than ever that our unity in countering attempts to falsify history is of the specific value,' Viktor Khrenin said.
In conclusion, he expressed confidence that today's joint meeting would be another step towards steadily strengthening the cooperation between the departments of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus.
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