NATO has been ramping up its forces along its eastern flank with Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine, deploying thousands of troops and equipment to deter Moscow from expanding its war into the territory of any of the organization’s 32 member countries.

Experts from ISW warn about the consequences of Russian actions in Belarus for the USA, NATO, and Ukraine. "Russia's efforts aim at the de facto annexation of Belarus," it reads. Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) point out that Russian attempts at the de facto annexation of Belarus pose a significant strategic threat to the

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned that restoring the alliance's credibility after a Russian victory in Ukraine could require trillions of dollars.