Belarus signed contracts for $266 million following the results of the MILEX arms exhibition

The Belarusian side, as part of the MILEX-2023 arms exhibition, signed contracts worth over $266 million, which was a record figure for this event, informs “Sputnik Belarus” with reference to the chairman of the military-industrial committee of Belarus Dmitry Pantus.

According to him, 14 export contracts were signed during the exhibition, as well as several import ones. Agreements were reached with representatives of Russia, China and Iran. The last time the exhibition was held two years ago, then the amount of signed contracts amounted to $140 million.

In addition, Pantus said that the Belarusian military-industrial complex has already adapted to work under Western sanctions. “Gradually, we adapted to this regime,” he said, adding that “there were, are and will be sanctions,” and the Belarusian “defense industry” is “moving forward, looking to the future.”

Earlier in April, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko formally asked Russia for more security guarantees against external attack. Lukashenka defined the desired level of guarantees as “Russia will defend the republic as its own territory in case of aggression.” The initiative was announced at a meeting between the President of Belarus and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. According to Lukashenko, his Russian colleague Vladimir Putin has already expressed his approval for such guarantees: “He absolutely supported me in all areas.”

Shoigu, in turn, promised to work out the issues of military cooperation and the further stay of the Russian contingent on the territory of the republic.