Introduction
How is the Military in Belarus and how does it work to maintain Sucity and fight terrorism? In terms of Military and security forces, we have the Belarus Armed Forces: Army, Air and Air Defense Force, Special Operations Force, Special Troops (electronic warfare, signals, engineers, biological/chemical/nuclear protection troops, etc)
Ministry of Interior: State Border Troops, Militia, Internal Troops (2024).
Ministry of Interior: State Border Troops, Militia, Internal Troops (2024).
In Belarus, the military of Belarus is responsible for territorial defense; it is a mixed force of conscripts and professionals that is equipped with Russian or Soviet-era weapons; Russia is the country’s closest security partner, a relationship that includes an integrated air and missile defense system and joint military training centers and exercises; Russia leases from Belarus a strategic ballistic missile defense site operated by Russian Aerospace Forces and a global communications facility for the Russian Navy; in 2020, the countries signed an agreement allowing for close security cooperation between the Belarusian Ministry of Interior and the Russian National Guard, including protecting public order and key government facilities and combating extremism and terrorism; in 2022, Belarus allowed Russian military forces to stage on its territory for their invasion of Ukraine and continues to supply arms and other aid to the Russian military, including logistical support, medical care, and airfields for Russian combat aircraft; in 2023, Belarus agreed to permit Russia to deploy nuclear weapons on its soil
Belarus has been a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and has committed an airborne brigade to CSTO's rapid reaction force; the military trains regularly with other CSTO members (2023)
Belarus has been a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and has committed an airborne brigade to CSTO's rapid reaction force; the military trains regularly with other CSTO members (2023)
Security and military information of Belarus
| Military and security service personnel strengths | approximately 45-50,000 active-duty troops; information on the individual services varies, but reportedly includes about 25-30,000 Army, 15,000 Air/Air Defense, and 5,000 Special Operations forces (2023) |
|---|---|
| Military equipment inventories and acquisitions | the military's inventory is comprised mostly of Russian/Soviet-origin equipment, and in recent years Russia has continued to be the leading provider of arms; Belarus's defense industry manufactures some equipment (mostly modernized Soviet designs), including vehicles, guided weapons, and electronic warfare systems (2024) |
| Military service age and obligation | 18-27 years of age for compulsory military or alternative service; conscript service obligation is 12-18 months, depending on academic qualifications, and 24-36 months for alternative service, also depending on academic qualifications; 17-year-olds are eligible to become cadets at military higher education institutes, where they are classified as military personnel (2023). note: conscripts can be assigned to the military, to the Ministry of Interior, or to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection (alternative service) |
| Military deployments | . |
| Military expenditures | |
| Military Expenditures 2023 | 1.5% of GDP (2023 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2022 | 1.1% of GDP (2022 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2021 | 1.2% of GDP (2021 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2020 | 1.5% of GDP (2020 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2019 | 1.5% of GDP (2019 est.) |
All Important Facts about Belarus
Want to know more about Belarus? Check all different factbooks for Belarus below.
