TEHRAN – Iran and Belarus solidified their partnership by signing a defence cooperation agreement on Wednesday. This is described as important in combating security threats and as important in advancing the multipolar world order.
The agreement sealed during a visit to Minsk by Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh in Minsk, in collaboration with Belarus’ Defense Minister Victor Krenin, shows an increase in military cooperation between the two countries.
At the signing ceremony, Nasirzadeh emphasized the role of the agreement in “enhancing the interaction between defense and security through practical measures,” and Krenin praised it as “the foundation of long-term stability in an era of unilateral escalation.”
The deal is built on the 2023 memorandum of understanding and will expand collaboration to military technology, terrorism and joint training programs.
Another important aspect of the debate was that Nasirzadeh utilizes multilateral venues, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to address what is called “an artificial crisis imposed by hegemonic forces.”
Both ministers criticized Western sanctions and the expansion of NATO, and instead advocated for “defensive diplomacy” and regional alliances that are not dependent on the US or European framework.
The deal also highlights technology exchanges, with Iran’s key domestic defence manufacturing potentially providing a platform for cooperation.
Strategic Context
The agreement follows a few months ago engagement between the two countries, including a January 2024 meeting in Tehran between Iranian Army Secretary Major General Abdulrahim Musavi and Belarus Air Force Commander Andrei Lukanovic.
Regional observers point out that timing coincides with increasing US pressure on both countries.
Belarus, a close ally of both Russia and China, has been under considerable pressure from Western countries in recent years since its concentration since the start of the Russo-Ukrainian War, but Iran has been the target of Western sanctions for decades.
While the agreement eschews outright provocative language, the emphasis on “multipolarity” and “resistance to coercion” reflects the shared rhetoric of Tehran and Minsk.