Belarus sends prime minister and military leaders to Murmansk
At the same time as Moscow deployed nuclear weapons in Belarus, top delegations from Minsk arrived in the far northern and heavy militarized Kola Peninsula.
It was trade that was on top of the agenda when Belarus Premier Roman Golovchenko last week came to the Russian Arctic city. The government leader wanted to explore ways to expand Belarus exports through the local seaport and look at possible shipments to Asian markets via the Northern Sea Route.
He especially wanted to know more about the projected development of a new port terminal for export of Belarus fertilizers.
But the prime minister was not the only top Belarus leader that paid a visit to the Russian North. Only a couple of days earlier, there was also a military delegation in town.
The representatives of the Belarus Military Academy visited the Northern Fleet together with its sister organization from Russia.
Together, the men from the two military academies studied the military capabilities of the Northern Fleet’s strategic command, as well as systems of interaction and management of submarines, surface vessel, aviation and air defense.
Naval exercise visited
In the delegations were generals, admirals and officers, the press service of the Russian Armed Forces informs.
During their visit, the military men attended naval exercise Kumzha-2023, the drills that included 15 surface vessels and submarines, as well as aircraft and helicopters.
The two neighboring countries, both ruled by aggressive regimes, have over many years strengthens ties. The level of integration culminated in May as Moscow deployed nuclear weapons in Belarus.
On the 25th of May, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu came to Minsk together with defense chiefs from the six member countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Moscow-ruled military alliance.
The visit came as Russia steps up its terror bombing of Kyiv and other Ukrainian towns and cities.
Some of the attacks on Ukraine are conducted with strategic bombers based in the Kola Peninsula.
Murmansk-Minsk ties
The Kola Peninsula is one of Russia’s most militarized regions where plentiful numbers of both strategic and tactical nuclear weapons are stored.
The strengthened ties between Murmansk and Minsk include a new direct air connection operated by Belarus airliner Belavia. In the town of Apatity, Belarus automobile plant Belaz is to open a service and repair center. And there is a major growth in trade. In 2022, more than 30,000 tons of Belarus goods were handled in the Murmansk port, and in the first four months of 2023 the volumes had increased to 95,000 tons, PM Golovchenko said during his visit.
“In a detailed way we are assessing issues related to the use of a north-bound direction for the reloading of Belarus export goods with use of infrastructure in Murmansk,” the government leader says in a comment.
“First of all, there is the ice-free Kola Bay. Secondly, there is a free exit to two oceans where there are no risks connected with problems free movement of ships like in the Baltic Sea. And then there is the Northern Sea Route, which is the future,” he added.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Norway committed to keeping Arctic Council as leading forum on North says ambassador, CBC News
Denmark: Danish policy prioritizes low-conflict Arctic amidst Russian tensions, Eye on the Arctic
Finland: Trial fence on Finland-Russia border nears completion, Lapland phase next, Yle News
Greenland: Growing focus on Arctic puts Greenland at higher risk of cyber attacks: assessment, Eye on the Arctic
Iceland: NATO anti-submarine warfare exercise underway in North Atlantic, Eye on the Arctic
Norway: And in Between, There Are Doors’—Europe, the Arctic, and shared spaces, Blog by Marc Lanteigne
Russia: Moscow expels five Swedish diplomats, orders closure of Consulate General, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Blinken to visit Luleå amid Arctic fighter jet exercise, The Independent Barents Observer
United States: U.S. set to open sole diplomatic post above Arctic Circle—Location? Tromso, Norway, Eye on the Arctic
