Asked by: Neale Hanvey (Alba Party - Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what training was provided by the UK to the Belarusian armed forces between 2018 and 2020.
Answered by James Heappey
The UK's engagement?with the Belarusian Armed Forces has been modest and driven by a need to build mutual understanding and trust on NATO's longest border with the CSTO. It includes Winter Survival Training, International Arms Control skills, Language Tuition and Peacekeeping.
Between 2018 and 2020, English language training has been provided (in support of Belarusian Personnel destined for UN Peacekeeping Operations) and one Belarusian Officer has completed the Advanced Command and Staff Course at the Defence Academy. Other training has focussed on Arms Verification techniques plus improving Governance in Defence as well as Command and Staff structures. Junior Leadership development alongside peers from other Former Soviet States has been delivered by UK personnel in the Czech Republic and Belarus. In 2018-19 the UK provided preparatory training for Belarusian Teams to participate in CAMBRIAN PATROL, an international military skills competition. Since 2018, the UK has trained around 60 Belarusians.