Belarus: no hesitation to use nuclear weapons in case of aggression

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News Website
13 Jun 2023 22:06
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Belarus itself isn't a nuclear state, but Belarus and Russia agreed to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in special storage facilities in Belarus earlier this year.

In this photo provided by the Belarusian Presidential Press Service, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko delivers a state-of-the-nation address in Minsk, Belarus, March 31, 2023 (AP).

The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, announced on Tuesday that Belarus will have "no hesitation" to employ nuclear weapons in case aggression is perpetrated against the country.

“I think it is unlikely that anyone would want to fight a country that has such weapons. These are weapons of deterrence. … God forbid I have to decide on the use of these weapons in modern times. But there will be no hesitation, as long as there is aggression against us," Lukashenko said, according to the Belarusian state news agency Belta.

Belarus itself isn't a nuclear state, but Belarus and Russia agreed to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in special storage facilities in Belarus earlier this year.

Lukashenko said that this agreement followed his "urgent demands" to Moscow to guarantee Belarus' security: describing it as a "necessary" decision so that none may "set foot" on Belarusian soil.

Western pressure and policies forced Belarus' hand when it came to deploying Russian tactical nuclear weapons, a senior Belarusian official said back in May.

Volvich said that the weapons were withdrawn after the 1991 Soviet collapse, as the United States had provided security guarantees and imposed no sanctions. "Today, everything has been torn down. All the promises made are gone forever," the Belta news agency quoted said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in late March that Russian tactical nuclear weapons would be placed in Belarus, with the storage sites for weapons expected to be finished by July 1.

Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia had clarified late in March that Russia was not violating its non-proliferation commitments by deploying tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.

Washington denounced the plan at the time, with the EU threatening Belarus with sanctions, although the Pentagon and NATO noted that there are no indications that Russia is preparing to use any nuclear weapons.

Belarus previously confirmed that the decision comes in response to years of Western pressure, including sanctions, as well as the military-build up by NATO member states near its borders.