Leaked Document Outlines Russia’s Belarus ‘Annexation’ Strategy
The 2021 Russian Presidential Administration paper spells out Minsk’s political, military, defense, humanitarian, trade and economic integration with Moscow as part of a so-called “
Union State”
Russia’s domestic, foreign and military intelligence services (the FSB, SVR and GRU, respectively) “actively contributed to the Union State plan,” the news site said, citing an unnamed Western intelligence officer with direct knowledge of the document.
And despite Russia’s military intervention in neighboring Ukraine and the Belarusian leadership’s evident resistance to an all-out merger
“The long-term goal to achieve total control over Belarus is still in force and hasn’t changed.”
“Russia is aware that Belarus is trying to torpedo these processes,” the officer added. “Neither︀ the politicians nor the local oligarchs have a desire to join the Union State.
“Some of that is visible publicly, for example dragging out the political integration process. Russia continues︁ to pressure Belarus regardless.”
Belarus acted as a launchpad for Russia’s nearly year-long invasion of︂ Ukraine but its own troops have not been directly involved in the war.
The leaked︃ document reportedly outlines Russia’s military expansion in Belarus with a joint command system and Russian︄ weapons depots.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/worl...elarus-annexation-strategy-report/ar-AA17KtIZ