26-5-2023 (Moscow) Russia has announced plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, marking the first time that the Kremlin has deployed such weapons outside Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko confirmed that the warheads were already on the move, a move denounced by the US State Department. However, the US reiterated that it had no intention of altering its position on strategic nuclear weapons, nor had it seen any signs that Russia was preparing to use a nuclear weapon.
President Vladimir Putin has accused the US and its allies of expanding a proxy war against Russia since sending troops into Ukraine 15 months ago. The plan for nuclear deployment was announced on 25 March by Putin in an interview with state television.
Russia’s defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, said that the West was doing all it could “to prolong and escalate the armed conflict in Ukraine”. He made the statement at a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart in Minsk. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko confirmed the tactical nuclear weapons were already on the move, but there was no confirmation from the Kremlin itself.
“The movement of the nuclear weapons has already begun,” Lukashenko confirmed to reporters in Moscow, where he was attending talks with other leaders of ex-Soviet states. When asked if the weapons were already in Belarus, he responded, “Possibly. When I get back, I will check.”
The deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus has raised concerns among many in the international community, as it marks a significant escalation in tensions between Russia and the West. The move could also have serious consequences for Belarus, which has recently been the focus of international attention due to Lukashenko’s crackdown on opposition figures.
