Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan at defense expo in Belarus

Iran’s military technology is being displayed in Belarus at an international defense exhibition.

Iranian state media, the Islamic Republic News Agency, highlighted the fact that “over 150 companies from both within Belarus and abroad, including Iran, are showcasing more than 750 types of weapons and military hardware at MILEX-2025.”

The IRNA said that “the 12th International Exhibition of Weapons and Military Equipment, known as MILEX-2025, kicked off on Wednesday, featuring over 150 companies from Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, and India.”

Iran’s Defense and Armed Forces Logistics Ministry “put on display more than 50 military achievements” in this exhibition, it added.

The participation of these countries illustrates how the event attracts some anti-Western countries, as well as those who seek to balance the power of the US.

As such, it is natural that Iran, Pakistan, China, and Russia would attend. Russia is involved in a war in Ukraine, a neighbor of Belarus. Belarus is an authoritarian state that has been run by the same leader since 1994. It is an ally of Russia.

Iran in center stage at defense expo

Iranian Brig.-Gen. Reza Talaei-Nik, a spokesperson for the Defense Ministry, arrived in Minsk for the expo.

“While visiting the Iranian pavilion, Talaei-Nik, in a brief conversation with Belarusian officials, expressed Iran’s readiness to develop cooperation between the two countries in the defense sector,” the IRNA added.

The defense event is being heralded in the various countries that are participating. Chinese media put out a short statement about it.

Lukashenko’s office put out a statement about the event. “In the year of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War, we are holding this large forum in the glory of common heroes.”He said that “developing the domestic military industry” was one of his top priorities.

“We are shaping the image of the state [while] confidently standing guard over the national interests and sovereignty of the Republic of Belarus,” Lukashenko said.

“I am convinced that the international exhibition of armaments and military equipment will let a wide range of specialists and experts get familiar with the most advanced achievements of both Belarusian manufacturers and foreign partners.

“May the military and technical capabilities of the state help us jointly meet the challenges of the time, ensuring a secure future for our citizens,” the Belarusian president said.

THE EXPO included various military items. Photos showed drones, missiles, and helicopters among the items on display.

Russia and Iran have increased their drone capabilities in recent years.

A Belarus website that focuses on business noted that “among the exhibits there will be the Lerka battery command post – a digital system for antiaircraft units, the Mirotvorets strike drone, the Askalon missile, and the Groza-S counter-UAV electronic warfare station.”

“The leading developer of the station, KB Radar, will show the latest means to combat drones, from stationary complexes to pocket gadgets,” it reported.

It said that while only five countries participated, delegations from 30 countries were in attendance.

The chief of the Collective Security Treaty Organization Joint Staff, Col.-Gen. Andrei Serdyukov took part in the events.

The CSTO has six members: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan.

Serdyukov said that the international exhibition contributed to the further development of military and military-technical cooperation between the CSTO member states.

He talked about modern weapons being used by these various countries and the importance that this has for Central Asian nations.

One significant aspect of this is equipping the Central Asian collective so as to allow it to rapidly deploy across its security regions if need be, Serdyukov said.

A CSTO report said this was particularly important for Kyrgyzstan.

Moscow’s Izvestia noted that countries showed interest in Russian weapons.

This included an interest in Russian drones. The “latest generation is capable of performing combat missions completely autonomously, without operator involvement,” the publication said.

“The new system is guided not by coordinates, but by the video stream.”

An employee from the Kalashnikov Group told the Russian media outlet, “We have moved away from the navigation system. We fly according to a picture – now everything is on video.”

This is apparently due to GPS jamming and other jamming systems.

Sudan’s envoy to Belarus, Omer Elamin Abdallah, also praised Russian defense technology. Sudan is involved in a civil war.

“The exhibition features expositions of the largest Russian defense enterprises: Rostec, Kalashnikov, Almaz-Antey, Uralvagonzavod, and the Unmanned Systems Group of companies,” Izvestia reported.

Russian companies also showed off the Pantsir-SMD-E air defense system. The president of Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Traore, praised the Oreshnik ballistic missile system.

Meanwhile, Iran is also involved in outreach to Venezuela. In the past, Iran has provided Caracas with drones. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Ali Chegini, Iran’s newly appointed ambassador to Venezuela.

Araghchi “emphasized the need to intensify efforts to deepen bilateral relations, with a focus on economic and trade cooperation,” the IRNA noted.

According to it, “Before his departure to Caracas, Chegini provided an overview of the current state of Iran-Venezuela relations and outlined proposed strategies to strengthen cooperation across shared areas of interest.”

Iran’s new man in Caracas previously served in Cuba and India.