Wagner Group in Belarus spells trouble, Eastern Europe’s NATO allies warn
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is reassuring allies that the alliance will defend “every inch of NATO territory” as Eastern European member countries are raising concerns about the presence of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group in Belarus.
Their comments follow this past weekend’s brief mutiny — a rare challenge to the regime. Just a day after Stoltenberg called the rebellion by the mercenary group a “demonstration of weakness” in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime, he was trying to allay fears by some countries, including Poland and Lithuania. “We have sent a clear message to Moscow and Minsk that NATO is there to protect every ally,” he said during a press conference Tuesday. “We have already increased our military presence in the eastern part of the alliance and we will make further decisions to further strengthen our collective defence with more high-readiness forces and more capabilities at the upcoming summit.” However, despite the reassurance, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda cautioned that the potential deployment of Wagner’s troops in Belarus risked “greater danger of instability” for bordering countries. “If Wagner deploys its serial killers in Belarus, all neighbouring countries face even greater danger of instability,” he said. “Under such circumstances, deterrence and forward defence is a top priority.” Germany said Monday that it was ready to station a 4,000-strong army brigade in Lithuania permanently.
Polish President Andrzej Duda also expressed concern over Wagner’s presence, warning NATO must work to strengthen its eastern flank.
The country recently tightened security at its border with Belarus in response to word that Wagner chief Yegeny Prigozhin would soon reside there. “In my
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