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Old 07-22-2023, 09:04 AM   #12071
Itse
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While media likes to play up the threat factor of stuff like Belarussian military exercises near the Polish border just for the clicks, it's good to remember that it makes a lot of political sense for European governments, especially the Polish government, to play up the idea of Russia escalating the conflict. They've been adding a ton to their military spending, and being democracies they need public support for that spending. Reminding people of the possibility of escalation is a way to do just that.

It also makes strategic sense for the West to play up the possibility of an escalation basically anywhere that isn't Ukraine, as it can help tie up Russian/Belarussian forces in places that are anywhere but Ukraine or the Ukrainian border.

Additionally, if we still agree with the idea (which was popular about a year ago) that Lukashenka is trying to not get dragged into the war against Ukraine, it makes sense for Lukashenka to play up the idea that "we totally need to protect our western border, we couldn't possibly move any more troops to the Ukrainian border".
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