Czechia maintains distance from recent nuclear escalations: MoD

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
2 Apr 2023 22:06

Following the British-Russian nuclear escalations in via Belarus and Ukraine respectively, the Czech Defense minister Jana Cernochova announced today that the Czech Republic has no plans to station any nuclear weapons on its territory, commenting on Russia’s initiative to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.

Czech Defense Minister Yana Chernokhova (Photo: Vaclav Salek / CTK / TASS)

Following the British-Russian nuclear escalations via Belarus and Ukraine respectively, the Czech Defense minister Jana Cernochova announced today that the Czech Republic has no plans to station any nuclear weapons on its territory, commenting on Russia’s initiative to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.

"Nothing like that is on the table," Cernochova, refuted the idea of stationing nuclear arms in her country.

However, she also clarified that even if a potential nuclear attack was to happen in Ukraine; this would pose no risk to Czechian national security.

"If something like this were to happen, the citizens of the Czech Republic would not be threatened in any way," she said.

On March 25th, Russia announced that it will station some of its tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus and that it has already deployed 10 nuclear-capable aircraft in the neighboring country as a response to the nuclear escalation by the UK.

On March 21, the British government vowed to send 14 of its 227 Challenger 2 main battle tanks to Kiev's forces. It will also send radioactive-depleted uranium ammunition for the tanks it vowed to supply for Kiev.

"Alongside our granting of a squadron of Challenger 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine, we will be providing ammunition including armor-piercing rounds which contain depleted uranium," Deputy Defence Minister Annabel Goldie told Parliament on Tuesday in response to a question from Lord Raymond Hylton. "Such rounds are highly effective in defeating modern tanks and armored vehicles."

Russia had struck a deal with neighboring Belarus to station tactical nuclear weapons on its territory while pledging that his country will not violate non-proliferation agreements.

Last Friday, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia affirmed that Russia is not violating its non-proliferation commitments by deploying tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.

Back in February, Putin announced Russia's decision to suspend participation in the New START agreement which prohibits the United States and Russia from possessing more than 1,550 nuclear warheads on delivery systems.