The tension between Russia and the West continues to escalate as Russian President Vladimir Putin announces plans to station tactical nuclear weapons in the neighboring country of Belarus. This move is seen as a warning to the West as it steps up military support for Ukraine, triggered by Britain’s decision to provide Ukraine with armor-piercing rounds containing depleted uranium. Putin argues that the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus is following the lead of the United States, which has nuclear weapons stationed in allied countries.
The U.S. government believes Russia has about 2,000 tactical nuclear weapons, and the move to station some of them in Belarus would up the ante in the Ukrainian conflict. This announcement has drawn international criticism and calls for regional security by Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who is living in exile. The world watches on as the tension between Russia and the West reaches new heights
Russia’s Putin Announces Deployment Of Tactical Nuclear Weapons In Belarus, Prompting Western Concerns
According to Reuters, an international reporting News Agency , Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, which has caused concern in the West and the US. According to Putin, the reason for the deployment was Britain’s decision to provide armor-piercing rounds containing depleted uranium to Ukraine. Tactical nuclear weapons are designed for use on the battlefield, with a short range and low yield as compared to long-range missiles which target a larger area . By July 1, the construction of storage facilities for weapons sent to Belarus will be completed, as Russia aims to retain authority over them. Putin did not disclose how many nuclear weapons Russia will keep in Belarus.
Putin argued that Russia is following the US’s lead by deploying its tactical nuclear weapons in allied countries such as Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey. However, some in Russia have urged the Kremlin to station tactical nuclear weapons closer to the Ukrainian conflict to send a message to the West.
The United States has declared that it will closely monitor the developments following Putin’s announcement. The National Security Council spokesperson, Adrienne Watson, has affirmed that the U.S. has no reason to alter its position on the ‘nuclear question’ or suspect that Russia is preparing to use nuclear weapons. Moreover, the U.S. retaliated its commitment to the collective defense of the NATO alliance.
Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine were formerly host to Soviet nuclear weapons before they handed them over to Russia after the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991. Putin claims that Lukashenko has long requested nuclear weapons in Belarus as a counter to NATO. Putin has stated that Belarusian military aircraft have been modernized to carry nuclear warheads, with 10 such planes ready to deploy.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the Belarusian opposition leader living in exile, stated that the agreement to transfer tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus highlights the threat to regional security posed by Lukashenko’s regime. She added on Twitter that Europe would not be safe until the Belarusian dictator is removed and brought before a tribunal to answer for his crimes against Ukraine and Belarus.
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