That seems to be the message from Moscow today, with the announcement of a vaguely-worded joint missile missile defense alliance with Belarus, consisting of five air force units and 10 air-defense missile units, which officials say will be focused on increasing the two country’s ability to monitor their airspace.

But other observers see it as a rather meaningless agreement, designed to throw some rhetorical weight into what is seen as a fading relationship.  Given that Belarus has drifted slightly toward the West over the past year (and I do only mean slightly) with the release of some political prisoners (but then arresting some more later) and other attempts to reach out to improve relations, Moscow may be getting a bit worried at the idea of losing Belarus.

This sense of quiet panic is visible elsewhere.