Under ex-Chairman Shushkevich, Belorussia was committed to a policy of neutrality. By mid-1993 all tactical nuclear weapons were removed and Belorussia announced its aim of removing its strategic nuclear weapons by 1995. Shushkevich also refused to sign the CIS Collective Security Pact, believing an independent army was essential to Belorussia's sovereignty.
Under Grib, stronger military ties with Moscow are being established and Belorussia is now bearing some of the costs of Russian troops stationed on its territory. However, Belorussia's large defense industry is hoping that the arrangement will mean an increase in orders from Russia.
