Leaders of Lithuania, Poland, and Latvia Warn NATO About Threats from Belarus

The presidents of Lithuania, Poland, and Latvia have sent a letter to the NATO Secretary General and the leaders of the alliance's member states, urging them to take measures to counter threats coming from Russia and Belarus.

In the letter published on the Lithuanian presidential website, the leaders stated that the cooperation between Russia and Belarus has worsened the security of the region and the entire Euro-Atlantic area. The territory and resources of Belarus have been utilized by Russia in its aggressive war against Ukraine, highlighting the increasingly close military integration between the two countries.

"The latest manifestation of this was the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory. This is an escalation in the context of the war in Ukraine and a direct threat to our security. This is yet another flagrant violation of the Russia-NATO framework act and a living proof that this document is no longer valid," the letter reads.

The presidents also noted that the transfer of mercenaries from the Wagner Group to Belarus poses risks to the political stability within the country and, as a consequence, a potential loss of control over conventional and nuclear weapons.

"Ahead of the NATO summit in Vilnius, we need solidarity and unity according to the principle of 360 degrees to counter all threats. This includes those related to the recent events in Belarus. We must show Russia that we see and understand these threats and are ready to use all possible means to counter them," the letter states.