Russia signs deal to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus – National | 24CA News
Russia and Belarus signed a deal on Thursday to formalize the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear missiles on Belarusian territory, a step Moscow stated was pushed by rising tensions with the West.
“In the context of an extremely sharp escalation of threats on the western borders of Russia and Belarus, a decision was made to take countermeasures in the military-nuclear sphere,” TASS news company quoted Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu as saying.
The deployment of the missiles was first introduced by President Vladimir Putin in March. Since invading Ukraine final 12 months, Putin has stated repeatedly that Russia could be prepared to make use of nuclear weapons if wanted to defend its “territorial integrity.”
NATO stated on the time it didn’t see any want to regulate its personal nuclear posture, although it stated Putin’s nuclear rhetoric was “dangerous and irresponsible.” Ukraine stated Russia’s ally Belarus had been “taken hostage” by Moscow.
Moscow will retain management over the weapons and any selections on their use, Shoigu stated.
TASS quoted him as saying that Iskander-M missiles, which might carry standard or nuclear warheads, had been handed to the Belarusian armed forces, and a few Su-25 plane had been transformed for the doable use of nuclear weapons.
“Belarusian servicemen have received the necessary training in Russian training centers,” Shoigu was quoted as saying.
He added that the agreements signed together with his Belarusian counterpart coated the process for establishing a “special storage facility for nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory.”
Tactical nuclear weapons seek advice from lower-yield weapons designed for battlefield use, versus strategic ones able to wiping out complete cities. Russia has not disclosed what number of tactical nuclear weapons it has.
