Russia, Belarus need additional measures to ensure security: Russian defense chief

MOSCOW

Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov stated on Friday that Russia and neighboring Belarus need additional measures to ensure their security.

Speaking at his first international meeting as defense minister with his Belarusian counterpart Viktor Khrenin in Minsk, Belousov said this need arises due to changes in the global military and political situation.

Belousov thanked Khrenin for the "warm welcome" and invited him to discuss military and technical cooperation.

For his part, Khrenin said that Friday's meeting was "another confirmation of the strong fraternal ties and strategic partnership between the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation."

"I am confident that your experience, knowledge, and leadership qualities will enable you to successfully address the difficult tasks facing the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in these challenging times," he said.

The Belarusian defense minister emphasized that Russian-Belarusian military cooperation is "especially important in the current very difficult conditions."

Belarus is the closest ally of Russia.