The UK’s new army chief has warned that amid the war between Ukraine and Russia, British soldiers “must prepare for renewed combat in Europe” – and there are growing concerns that Belarusian troops could join the Russian invasion.
General Sir Patrick Sanders, in a message to his soldiers, said Russia’s attack on Ukraine “underscores our core purpose of protecting the UK by standing ready to justify and win wars on land,” according to Sky News.
Sir Sanders, who had just assumed the Army’s highest post, described himself as the first Chief of Staff since 1941 to assume command of the Army “in the shadow of a land war in Europe involving a continental power.
“There is now an urgent need to forge an army capable of fighting alongside our allies and defeating Russia in battle,” he wrote.
“We are the generation that must prepare the army to fight again in Europe.”
Sir Sanders’ statement comes as a Russian foreign policy expert said military training exercises near the Belarus-Ukraine border could indicate the Russian ally could join the war.
According to a foreign policy expert, Russian President Vladimir Putin could force Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to take a “more aggressive stance” in the war. Photo by RAMIL SITDIKOV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images
“That’s the concern [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is trying to apply pressure [Belarus President Alexander] Lukashenko and forcing him to take a more aggressive stance to launch more aggressive actions from Belarus involving Belarusian troops,” said Mark Voyger, senior fellow of the Transatlantic Defense and Security Program at the Center for European Analysis, according to Express.co. United Kingdom.
The military exercises that Belarus will hold in the Gomel region in June and July are likely just a cover for an upcoming invasion, he said.
“These drills will raise serious concerns because, unfortunately, Russia and its allies consistently use military drills as a mask to hide their aggressive actions,” Voyger told Express.co.uk.
The UK Army Chief, General Sir Patrick Sanders, has warned soldiers they may need to prepare for combat in Europe.Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images
Twice previously, Russia said it would hold military exercises that later led to real attacks, including in 2014 when the country invaded the Crimean peninsula and last year when more than 150,000 troops were deployed to the Ukrainian border for “exercises,” which eventually led to the invasion on February 24th.
Voyger was an adviser to the US Army in Iraq and Afghanistan and worked on former US Senator Mitt Romney’s (R-Utah) presidential campaign.
Lukashenko, Putin’s closest ally, last month warned of the possibility of World War III if Western nations continued to supply arms to Ukraine.
Sir Sanders’ message to British soldiers comes as some speculate Belarus could join Russia in invading Ukraine. Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Although Belarus did not enter the war, Russian forces have used the country’s land as a launch pad for some of their attacks on Ukraine.
“But in this case, Russia is suffering from a shortage of soldiers, so additional troops would greatly increase their potential, especially if they could strike again from the north, possibly using Belarusian troops,” Voyger said.