The US State Department announced Monday that another American embassy would be closing due to “security and safety issues stemming” from Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. The State Department had begun evacuating the US embassy in Belarus as the country has moved to ally itself with Russia.
The closer suggests that Belarus is about to go from a silent supporter to an active friend in arms. Which could all spell disaster for Ukraine.
“The Department of State continually adjusts its posture at embassies and consulates throughout the world in line with its mission, the local security environment, and the health situation,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. “We ultimately have no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens, and that includes our U.S. government personnel and their dependents serving around the world.”
According to TheGaurdian, Belarus may be preparing to send its soldiers into Ukraine in support of the Russian invasion, perhaps as soon as this week, according to a US defence official, amid mounting concern about Minsk’s military preparations.
Belarus has already been used as a staging post by Russian forces, who gathered there on the pretext of joint military exercises before last week’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Now there is increasing evidence that Minsk may be moving towards becoming an explicit participant in the war.
On Monday it announced it was revoking its non-nuclear status after a referendum, allowing Russian weapons to be placed in Belarus. The move provoked rare protests in the country.
1/4 The United States of America has suspended operations of our embassy in Minsk. All American staff have departed Belarus. pic.twitter.com/Og8iynLdi6
— U.S. Special Envoy for Belarus (@USAmbBelarus) February 28, 2022
Already too far in?
On Sunday, Anton Herashchenko, an adviser to the Ukrainian internal affairs minister, said Iskander missiles had been launched from Belarus towards Ukraine. “The launch of Iskanders across Ukraine from Mozyr region. Launch around 1700,” he wrote on Telegram. He posted a video showing a missile being fired reportedly towards the Rivne region bordering Belarus.
Putin’s allies are few but the added troops from Belarus could quickly spell disaster for the already pressed Ukraine solders.
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