Belarus says Russian military base will worsen tensions: Kommersant

Belarus sees no need to discuss placing a Russian air base in the country as it will not help to lower tensions in the region, Belarus Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei was quoted as saying by Russia’s Kommersant newspaper.

“Placing an air base will not reduce military and political tensions in the region. Conversely, the air base will lead to irritation toward both Minsk and Moscow,” Makei told Kommersant in an interview.

“We think there is no need to have a discussion on placing a base in Belarus.”