NATO has denied the accusations of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, who announced a military buildup by the alliance near the western border of the country, Reuters reported.

Earlier, Lukashenko said that the alliance's tanks and aircraft are 15 minutes from the country's border.

“There is no NATO buildup in the region,” NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said in a statement. 

“NATO’s multinational presence in the eastern part of the Alliance is not a threat to any country. It is strictly defensive, proportionate, and designed to prevent conflict and preserve peace.”