MEDIA: Alexander Lukashenko has been escalating tensions with NATO

President Lukashenko and his Russian counterpart are showing "increasingly erratic and unpredictable behaviour" which is "not grounded in the support of the Russian and Belarusian people", Military analyst Sean Bell writes, Report informs, citing Sky News.

He wrote that Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has been escalating tensions with NATO:

"In post since July 1994, despite growing levels of internal dissent, the Belarusian leader has been kept in power by increasing levels of Russian support, while Mr. Lukashenko has recently been emboldened by the presence of Wagner Group mercenary fighters in his country.

"But this has led to heightened tensions with Poland (a member of NATO) and reported threats near the border, which risks tainting his legacy by embroiling Belarus in Russia's war in Ukraine.

"There were also reports of Belarusian helicopters involved in border violations - all designed to heighten tensions with Belarus's NATO neighbours."