Biden calls Putin's nuclear deployment in Belarus talk 'dangerous'
3 Min Read
The US President is worried about Russia's plan to station some of its tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.
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US President Joe Biden talks to the news media after arriving on Marine One from North Carolina, on the South Lawn of the White House, in Washington, US, March 28, 2023 (Reuters)
US President Joe Biden on Tuesday criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin's stated plan to deploy nuclear weapons in neighboring Belarus, branding it "dangerous" talk.
"This is dangerous kind of talk and it's worrisome," Biden told reporters at the White House.
Putin announced on March 25 that Russia will station some of its tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus and has already deployed 10 nuclear-capable aircraft in the neighboring country, as reported by TASS.
The Russian leader added that by July 1, Russia will complete the construction of a facility in Belarus to store the tactical nuclear arms, but the control of the weapons will not be transferred to Minsk.
Washington has denounced the plan, although the Pentagon and NATO noted that there are no indications that Russia is preparing to use nuclear weapons.
"They [Russians] haven't done that yet," Biden said.
Read more: Germany criticizes Russia for plan to station nuclear arms in Belarus
Belarus to host Russian nuclear weapons to counter NATO
Belarus on Tuesday confirmed it will host Russian tactical nuclear weapons, confirming 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.
This is the first official Belarusian statement confirming the approval of the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus since Putin's announcement on the matter on Saturday.
In a statement, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry said the move will offer the country protection from the United States and its allies, who continue to exert pressure on Lukashenko’s government.
"Over the past two and a half years, the Republic of Belarus has been subjected to unprecedented political, economic, and informational pressure from the United States, Great Britain, and their NATO allies, as well as the member states of the European Union," the statement read.
The Ministry further noted that the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons and the development of Belarusian technology does not violate the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
It added that the move only entails the deployment of the weapons albeit under the full control of Russia and does not warrant the transfer of these weapons to Minsk.
Furthermore, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry pointed out that the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons has been common practice in NATO countries, with estimates suggesting that the US has deployed approximately 150 tactical bombs in strategic positions across Europe.
Read more: EU threatens Belarus with sanctions over Russia's nuclear deployment
