Belarus, a former republic of the Soviet Union and a close ally of Russia and its President Vladimir Putin, has expressed its readiness to launch an attack against its neighbour Lithuania and thus NATO. Lithuania is also a member of the EU.
Belarus holds membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), formed in 2002. This is an intergovernmental military alliance in Eurasia consisting of six post-Soviet states: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. Despite not having deployed its own troops into the Ukraine, Belarus has already allowed Russian forces to use its land for strategic purposes.
Belarusian First Deputy State Secretary Pavel Muraveiko stated that Belarus should have „every right” to use force against Lithuania, as Lithuania has effectively banned Belarus from moving goods across the border by imposing travel sanctions against Belarus, including the closure of border crossings and ceasing to issue tourist visas to Belarusian travellers. This has stifled transit between Belarus and Russian territory, with Lithuania providing the most direct path from Belarus to Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian territory on the Baltic Sea.
If Belarus launches any military action against Belarus, the situation could escalate rapidly due to NATO membership.
