Russia’s plans to deploy tactically have sent the West into a frenzy nuclear weapons in Belarus. Vladimir Putin’s statements raised alarm in the EUNATO said it was on high alert while the US tried to play down the concerns in its own way as Ukraine called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
It all started when it became known that Russia struck a deal with neighboring Belarus to install tactical nuclear weapons on its soil.
Such a move would not violate international agreements banning the proliferation of nuclear weapons, the Russian president said, adding that the United States had placed nuclear weapons on the territory of European allies.
“From April 3, we start training the crews,” Putin said. “THE Russia will have completed construction of a facility to store tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus by July 1,” he said while adding that Moscow will not actually transfer arms control to Minsk.
“Russia has already stationed 10 aircraft in Belarus capable of regularly carrying nuclear weapons,” Putin said.
“We agreed with Lukashenko that we would regularly place nuclear weapons in Belarus without violating the status of agreementshe added.
What are the tactical nuclear weapons that will be developed in Belarus
Arms control academics and negotiators have not settled on a specific definition of tactical nuclear weapons (TNW). But as they emphasize these can be described as “low yield” nuclear weapons and are intended to be used on battlefields and not against cities.
The specific nukes cause radioactive explosions as well as other deadly effects, beyond the damage caused by the explosion itself.
Their heads can be shot through rocketstorpedoes and gravity bombs by naval, air or land forces, even to be transported by road to an area and detonated in situ.
As of 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Russia had about 22,000 TNWs while the United States had about 11,500.
The reactions to Putin’s statements and the conclusion of the agreement with Belarus
NATO: We are closely monitoring the situation
“The NATO is on alert and we are monitoring the situation closely. We have not seen changes in the layout of Russia’s nuclear arsenal that would lead us to change ours,” the NATO representative pointed out.
“Russia’s reference to NATO nuclear sharing is completely misleading. NATO allies act in full respect of their international commitments. “Russia has systematically violated its own commitments under the arms control process, most recently by suspending its participation in the New START Treaty,” the Alliance spokesman said.
Borrell: It is a threat to European security
The High Representative of the EU, Josep Borel, showed his reaction to Vladimir Putin’s plans with his post, stressing that “the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus would mean an irresponsible escalation and a threat to European security”.
“Belarus can still stop it, it’s their choice. The EU is ready to respond with further sanctions,” he added.
US: No evidence Russia plans to use nuclear weapons
He tried to calm the spirits US Department of Defense stating that there is no indication that Russia plans to use nuclear weapons, in the wake of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement that Moscow will regularly deploy nuclear weapons on Belarusian soil
“We have seen reports of the Russian government’s announcement and will continue to monitor developments,” the US Department of Defense press office said in a written statement.
“We have seen no reason to readjust our nuclear stance and no indication that Russia plans to use a nuclear weapon. We remain committed to the collective defense of the NATO alliance” emphasized the American Foreign Ministry.
“We have no indication that he has followed through on his commitment or that nuclear weapons have been transferred,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told CBS.
“In fact, we have no indication that he intends to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine,” he said, adding that nothing currently prompts the United States “to change its position in terms of strategic deterrence.”
Ukraine calls for an urgent convening of the Security Council
Putin’s plan was mocked by statements made by Mykhailo Podoliak, who is Zelensky’s senior adviser. “He admits that he is afraid of losing and all he can do is scare us with threats,” he said.
At the same time, however, his country requested the urgent convening of the UN Security Council and asked the West and China to put an end to the “nuclear hostage” practiced by Russia.
“The Kremlin is holding Belarus nuclear hostage“, assessed for his part the secretary of the Ukrainian Security Council, Oleksii Danilov.
France condemns Putin’s intention
France condemns Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intention to deploy “tactical” nuclear weapons on the territory of its ally, Belarus, while calls on Moscow to show “responsibility” by reversing its nuclear decision.
“Following Russia’s violation of the INF Treaty, which led to its disappearance and the announcement of the suspension of Russia’s participation in the New Start Treaty last February, this agreement represents an additional element of erosion of the international architecture of arms control and strategic stability in Europe,” said the spokeswoman for the French Foreign Ministry.
Paris is calling on Russia to “show the responsibility expected of a nuclear-weapon state and withdraw from this destabilizing agreement.”
Lithuania calls for new sanctions on Russia
Lithuania, for its part, is expected to request the imposition of new sanctions in response to Russia’s plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, the Foreign Ministry announced in Vilnius.
“Together with its Euro-Atlantic partners, Lithuania will decide how to react to these militaristic plans of the Russian and Belarusian regimes” the announcement points out and adds: “As one of the reaction measures, Lithuania will request the adoption of new sanctions”.
Source: News Beast
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